Aug. 30, 2003

Box Score

Northridge, CA- The Saint Mary's women's volleyball team remains undefeated on the season and now possesses a 3-0 record following their win over CS Northridge in the final game of the Fremont Investment & Loan Invitational by a final score of 3-0. The Gaels swept the Matadors in three games by scores of 38-36, 30-25, and 30-20. By opening the season with three consecutive victories, head coach Jon Stevenson has led Saint Mary's to its second best start in school history. The Gaels current streak only of three victories to open the season only trials that of the 1993 Saint Mary's volleyball team. That season the Gaels opened with four consecutive victories.

As for the final match, the Gaels posted a 62-41 advantage in kills as a team, but were out-blocked by the Matadors 8.0 to 5.0. Saint Mary's an extremely close first game, just getting by the Matadors by a score of 38-36. With that close win in game one, Saint Mary's looked to carry momentum into game two where they posted a .295 attacking percentage to CS Northridge's .027. The Gaels eventually put the match away with a strong third game where they had their highest attacking percentage at .324. While Saint Mary's remained unbeaten at 3-0, CS Northridge fell to 1-1 on the young season.

Aside from the team successes many individual players received honors for their performances throughout the tournament.Senior Jill Parmele was named the tournament's MVP following her 23 kills against CS Northridge in the title match. In her match against the Matadors, Parmele posted a .386 attacking percentage (23-6-44), recorded two aces, and finished with seven digs. For the tournament Parmele finished with 33 kills and 20 digs.

Also receiving recognition for their consistent outstanding play throughout the two days of competition were All-Tournament selections Kaui Salzman and Cassandra Kolkka. Salzman posted a double-double against the Matadors in the tournament's final match by recording 14 kills and 12 digs. Salzman is the third different Gael this season to post a double-double and finished the tournament with 30 kills and 18 digs. Kolkka, only a freshman, played solid throughout the tournament by finishing with a team-high 27 digs.

Also providing stellar contributions for Saint Mary's were a trio of juniors. Lindsey Bogason, Stacey O'Connor and Lindsay Hardy all played an integral role during the course of the tournament. For the tournament, Bogason finished with 15 kills and Hardy recorded 32 assists to help pace the attack, while O'Connor finished with nine block assists. Mandy Bible also played a significant role for the Gaels as she finished with a team-high 75 assists.

Saint Mary's will resume play on Wednesday, September 3 in McKeon Pavilion as they prepare to take on the Oregon State Beavers at 7:05.

Tournament MVP: Jill Parmele Saint Mary's

All-Tournament Selections: Kristin Ursillo Northeastern Larissa Adomat Northeastern Kaui Salzman Saint Mary's Cassandra Kolkka Saint Mary's Jennifer Fopma CS Northridge Unn Kvendseth CS Northridge