Sept. 23, 2005

Box Score

Irvine, CA - The No. 21 ranked Saint Mary's volleyball team beat UC Irvine 3-0 on Friday night in Irvine, CA. The Gaels swept the Anteaters by a final score of 31-29, 30-26, 30-27. With the win the Gaels improve to 9-2 on the season, while the Anteaters fell to 5-7.

Saint Mary's was led by Kaui Salzman, who recorded a match-high 18 kills with a .361 hitting percentage. Salzman also added 12 digs and one ace on the night. Cassandra Kolkka had 13 kills with a .524 hitting percentage, six digs and two aces, Missie Stidham had nine kills, five digs and two aces and Mandy Bible had 41 assists and six digs. Christina Kirk had six kills, two aces and four blocks and Lyndsey Parker had 14 digs.

The Gaels return to action Saturday, September 24, when they face Long Beach State at the Gold Mine on the Long Beach State campus.

In the first game the Gaels jumped out to an early 14-8 lead, before the Anteaters called their first timeout. UC Irvine rallied to tie the score 22-22, before the Gaels took a 23-22 lead. Both teams played back-and-forth to a 28-28 tie, until the Anteaters took a 29-28 lead, forcing the Gaels to call their first timeout. Saint Mary's scored the next two points on kills by Stidham and Salzman to take a 30-29 lead, forcing UC Irvine to take its final timeout. Saint Mary's won the final point of the game on a block by Kirk, leading to the 31-29 victory. The Gaels were led by Salzman, who had seven kills and seven digs. Kolkka added five kills and two digs and Parker had five digs.

In Game 2, the Gaels and Anteaters rallied for the first 12 points, until Saint Mary's jumped in front 15-12. Both teams played evenly until the Gaels won two consecutive points, taking a 26-23 lead, forcing UC Irvine to take its first timeout. The Gaels scored four out of the final seven points to win the second game 30-26. Saint Mary's was once again led by Salzman in the game, who recorded six kills and added four digs, giving her a double-double after two games. Kolkka, Kirk and Stidham each added three kills in the game.

In the third game the Gaels jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Saint Mary's led 23-17, before taking its first timeout after UC Irvine scored three quick points. The Gaels continued to lead 29-25, before UC Irvine scored two points, forcing the Gaels to take their final timeout. Saint Mary's set Salzman out of the timeout and with the kill the Gaels won the game 30-27.