Offense Leads Duke Past Santa Clara, 3-0

Saturday, September 16

Durham, N.C.

8 p.m.

Duke University

9-2,0-0ACC

Santa Clara

8-4,0-0WCC

Santa Clara

Duke

Offense Leads Duke Past Santa Clara, 3-0

9/16/2023 11:29:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

DURHAM – The Duke volleyball team secured its ninth straight victory in dominant fashion with a 3-0 sweep (25-22, 25-19, 25-13) over Santa Clara Saturday evening at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Duke was dominant out of the gate and posted a .480 hitting percentage — its best of the season and the its second straight match hitting over .400 percent.

The Blue Devils were led by three in double digit kills — Jess Robinson, Gracie Johnson and Kerry Keefe — as the trio hit .551 percent with 43 kills. Robinson was outstanding with 19 kills and no errors to hit .792 percent. Johnson added 14 kills while Keefe notched 10. Setter Emma Worthington dished 45 dimes, while libero Madison Bryant collected 11 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Duke was firing on all cylinders in the first set with a match-best 20 kills to hit .425 percent. Johnson jumpstarted the team with seven kills to start the match, while Bryant tallied eight digs.
The second set featured eight ties but defensively, the Broncos couldn't find an answer for Duke's offensive firepower. Robinson was was flawless with 10 kills on 10 swings to hit 1.000 percent in the second stanza.
Santa Clara saw its best offensive output in the third set but couldn't match Duke's intensity as it knocked down 19 kills and just one error for a .562 clip to end the match.

NOTABLES

Duke improves to 9-2 overall with its ninth straight victory.
The all-time series with Santa Clara moves to 2-1 in favor of the Broncos.
This was head coach Jolene Nagel's 692nd victory of her career and the 490th at the helm of the Blue Devils.
Duke remains undefeated at home, 5-0.
Duke has swept its opponent in five of the last six matches.
With her two aces tonight, Johnson now owns 138 career aces to rank eighth in program history.
Robinson's .792 hitting percentage this evening is the best nationally in a three-set match this season (as of Sept. 15).
Robinson is hitting .471 percent this fall with 98 kills.
Worthington tallied her 15th career game with 40 or more dimes.
Tonight was the second time this season Duke featured three players with double digit kills.
The Broncos were led by Layla Truitt with 14 kills.

QUOTE

"Our team was incredibly efficient and office tonight. We had some individuals with exceptional numbers. Santa Clara was passing very well so we needed to be strong with our serve tonight. Santa Clara's offense was very fast and our blockers had to work hard to get some quality touches. Our passing defense really helped us to be able to transition offensively and score. Our team executed and put together two solid offensive outings this weekend which is important as we begin ACC play next weekend." - head coach Jolene Nagel

NEXT MATCH

Duke starts ACC competition next weekend with No. 8 Pittsburgh (Sept. 22) and Virginia (Sept. 24) at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".

#GoDuke