Women's Volleyball Opens Season The Right Way

Wednesday, September 1

Moraga, CA

7:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

UC Riverside

Women's Volleyball Opens Season The Right Way

9/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Sept. 2, 2004

Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's women's volleyball opened the 2004 season the right way on Wednesday night at McKeon Pavilion when it beat visiting UC Riverside 3-0. The Gaels improved to 1-0 on the season and continued to play excellent volleyball under head coach Jon Stevenson, picking up right where they left off last season, the school's best in Division I history. The Gaels took the first game 30-27 and set the tone right away. In Game 2, the Gaels came from behind early and beat the Highlanders 30-26. In the final game of the night, Saint Mary's beat UC Riverside 30-25. Over the three games, the Gaels were led by sophomore outside hitter Cassandra Kolkka and senior opposite hitter Lindsey Bogason. Kolkka recorded a team-high 12 kills and added seven digs and Bogason added 11 kills and nine digs. Sophomore setter Mandy Bible led the way with 31 assists and eight digs. Saint Mary's freshman Melissa Stidham had an impressive first game, as she recorded a team-high 13 digs to go along with five kills. Stidham played the first two games as libero and switched to outside hitter in the Gaels' final game. UC Riverside was led by Jamie DeKiewiet, who recorded a game-high 19 kills and added nine digs. Tiffany Brooks had 17 digs for the Highlanders and Kym Murphy had 28 assists. As a team the Gaels recorded 48 kills and 49 digs. UC Riverside had 40 kills and 57 digs. The Gaels return to action on Friday, September 3 when they travel to Reno, NV to participate in the SBC/Sands Tournament hosted by the University of Nevada. The Gaels will face host Nevada on Friday night at 7 p.m. Saint Mary's will then face Stanford at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 4 and then Utah State at 5 p.m. Saturday night.