Nov. 15, 2003

Box Score

Moraga, CA- The Saint Mary's women's volleyball team defeated WCC foe and No. 22-ranked San Diego on Saturday night by the final score of 3-2. Game scores of the Gaels big victory over the Toreros were 30-21, 17-30, 30-28, 26-30, and 15-12. With the win Saint Mary's improved to 20-11 on the season and 6-7 in WCC play while the Toreros fell to 17-10 overall and 6-6 in WCC action.

In game one the Gael showed no signs from last nights five game set by finishing game one with a .432 hitting percentage behind 20 kills. The Gaels were able to stuff the Toreros in the first frame by limiting them to a .136 hitting percentage and forcing 8 hitting errors. With the Gaels up 1-0 on the match, the Toreros stormed back to take game two behind a team hitting percentage of .324. The Gaels aided San Diego by finishing game two with a .031 hitting percentage.

With the match squared at a game apiece, the Gael exhibited tremendous poise under pressure by taking game three by a close score of 30-28. The turning point in game three came with the score tied at 17 after Saint Mary's outside hitter Kaui Salzman served a total of seven times. Over that span, Salzman recorded three crucial aces. Compounded with Salzman's play the Gaels were able to win the game despite posting a .083 hitting percentage to that of San Diego's .188. In game four, the San Diego again evened the match by taking the game 30-26. The Toreros were aided by SMC's -.024 hitting percentage in game four after the Gaels posted nine hitting errors.

In the final and decisive game, the Gaels were prepared for No. 22-ranked San Diego. Saint Mary's started the fifth game with a quick 5-1 lead that they would never relinquish behind Cassandra Kolkka and Salzman's serving. In a brilliant fifth game that included numerous long rallies and diving saves, the Gaels eventually put away the Toreros by the final score of 15-12 to win the match.

Offensively, the Gaels were led by senior Jill Parmele and sophomore Kaui Salzman. Parmele, an outside hitter, recorded 14 kills en route to another double-double. On the evening the Acampo, CA native also posted 14 digs, seven block assists, one ace and one assist. Also coming up big for Saint Mary's offensively was Salzman. The outside hitter finished with a double-double in kills and digs by recording a team-high 15 kills and 13 digs. Also providing outstanding offensive contributions was freshman Mandy Bible. The setter also finished the match with a total of 47 assists.

Defensively, the Gaels were anchored by Lindsay Hardy, Stacey O'Connor, and Christina Kirk. Hardy, the team's libero recorded a match-high 18 digs against the Toreros. O'Connor also played an integral role in the Gaels upset victory by posting 13 kills and six block assists. The junior also finished with four digs and three aces on the match. Wrapping up the Gaels contributors was Kirk. The middle blocker recorded a double-double against San Diego by finishing with a total of 10 kills and 12 block assists on the match. The Gaels next match will be their final scheduled opponent of the season when the host WCC rival San Francisco on Saturday, November 22 at 7:05 PM in McKeon Pavilion.