Sawatzky Tallies Nine Kills in Volleyball’s Senior Day Loss to No. 10 UCLA

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(Corvallis, Oregon) - Senior Jill Sawatzky (St. Andrews, Manitoba) tallied nine kills in her last match in Gill Coliseum, but the Oregon State volleyball team was unable to overcome No. 10 UCLA on Sunday afternoon, falling in three.

Set scores were 14-25, 24-26 and 21-25. The Beavers fall to 8-22, 1-15 Pac-10, while the Bruins improve to 21-7, 11-6 Pac-10.

"Jill Sawatzky really came around at the end of the match to get some good balls,” head coach Taras Liskevych said. “UCLA really blocked us well in the first couple of games. They’re a good team, and we just had our chances in that second set to put them away, and that’s kind of been almost the theme of the year. When we have chances in sets we have to close them and get somebody to step up to the plate. That’s part of maturing – to know when to do that and how to do that best.

This team has never quit, has a great work ethic and we just have to keep at it and I think good things will happen."

Post-match, seniors Sawatzky, Kiersten Sambrailo (Watsonville, Calif.) and Kaitlan Locke (West Linn, Ore.) were honored for their achievements and record setting performances through their careers.

Sawatzky added five digs and two blocks, while freshman Mona Kressl (Langenzenn, Germany) and sophomore Ashley Eneliko (Seattle, Wash.) added six kills each with Kressl adding six blocks. Sophomore Camille Saxton (Balzac, Alberta) had a strong defensive game at the net with four blocks.

UCLA’s Rachael Kidder killed a match-high 14 balls with libero Lainey Gera earning 26 digs to lead the backcourt defense, Mariana Aquino leading the defense at the net with seven blocks.

Oregon State ends its season at Washington State and No. 11 Washington next weekend. The Beavers will face the Cougars first on Friday at 7:00 p.m.