National volleyball honor for Perret National volleyball honor for Perret (September 16, 2005)

by Rick Eymer

Cassie Perret has been quietly putting together one of the most reliable, consistent collegiate careers for the Santa Clara women's volleyball team ever.

Last week, the Woodside Priory grad wasn't so quiet. Perret was named the MVP of the Bronco Invitational after averaging 4.70 points, 4.10 kills, 2.10 digs and 1.20 blocks per game while hitting at a .415 clip as Santa Clara beat Fresno State and nationally-ranked Arizona and UC Santa Barbara to earn the tournament title.

This week Perret is the reigning Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week, the first such honor for the Santa Clara program.

"It's a great honor for both Cassie and the program," Santa Clara coach Jon Wallace said. "Cassie has worked hard on her game for the last three years and to be recognized for having a great weekend and helping us beat two ranked opponents is just awesome. I'm so happy for her."

Santa Clara handed Arizona it's first loss of the season.

Perret has helped the 17th-ranked Broncos become one of the top teams in the nation as she's started all but one match in her three-plus seasons at Santa Clara.

Earlier this season the Menlo Park resident reached the 1,000 mark in kills. She has 1,035 as Santa Clara (6-0) prepares to face Idaho in the first round of the Utah Classic today in Salt Lake City. A win would give the Broncos their best start in school history.

"Any time you travel it will be tough," Wallace said. "Our next match is just another match where we want to get better, to prepare for our conference and hopefully beyond."

Perret, hitting at a .331 clip on the season, has 74 kills, 45 digs and 25 blocks. Her versatility - she finished among Santa Clara's top three in kills, digs and blocks last year - is make makes her so valuable to the Broncos.

If the Pac-10 Conference is one of the toughest in the nation, with eight of its nine members owning winning records and four nationally-ranked teams, then the West Coast Conference is not far behind. The Broncos are one of three nationally-ranked teams from the conference, which features just one team with a losing record. Santa Clara was picked to finish third in the WCC.

Santa Clara's .325 hitting percentage ranks it fourth nationally, with Perret's outside hitting teammate Kim McGiven ranked seventh in the nation in kills per game. Broncos' setter Crystal Matich ranks seventh nationally in aces and 11th in assists per game.

Perret recorded double figures in kills in all three matches of the Bronco Invitational. Her best match was against the Wildcats, when she hit .467 and recorded a double-double with 18 kills and 10 digs.

Santa Clara plays host Utah on Sunday.

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