Sept. 24, 2005

Box Score

Long Beach, CA - The Saint Mary's volleyball team jumped in front of Long Beach State in a hostile gym in all four games, but only managed to put the 49ers away in one, leading to a tough 3-1 loss on Saturday night.

Saint Mary's was playing Long Beach State in The Gold Mine, a small loud gym that the 49ers were playing in for the first time since 1994. With the loss the Gaels fall to 9-3, while Long Beach State improved to 10-3. Saint Mary's will begin West Coast Conference play on October 1 against San Francisco at 7 p.m. at War Memorial Gymnasium.

The Gaels were led by Cassandra Kolkka, Kaui Salzman and Missie Stidham, who all had 17 kills each. Kolkka hit .571 and added two aces for the match. Salzman added 12 digs and seven blocks and Stidham added seven digs.

Mandy Bible recorded 60 assists and added eight blocks and two kills. Christina Kirk had nine kills, seven blocks and three aces.

The Gaels reached 21 points first in all four matches, but allowed the 49ers to battle back and win three out of the four.

In the first game the Gaels took a 16-14 lead after both teams rallied for the first half of the game, leading to a Long Beach State timeout. Saint Mary's continued to lead, taking a 23-20 lead after a Stidham kill, forcing the 49ers to take their final timeout. Long Beach State rallied back to take a 27-25 lead, forcing the Gaels to take their first timeout. Long Beach State went won three of the last four points to win the game 30-26. The Gaels were led by Stidham, who had six kills and two digs. Salzman had five kills, Kolkka had four kills and Bible had 17 assists.

To start the second game the Gaels jumped in front 6-4 early in the game, leading to Long Beach State's first timeout. Saint Mary's continued to lead late, until Long Beach State scored three straight points to take a 26-25 lead, forcing the Gaels to take their first timeout. The 49ers went on to win four out of the next six points to win the game 30-27. Salzman led the Gaels in the second game, recording four kills. Kolkka and Kirk added two kills and Bible had 10 assists.

In Game 3, the Gaels jumped in front 17-13, after four consecutive points while Kolkka was at the service line, including two aces, forcing the 49ers to call their first timeout. Saint Mary's continued to lead 20-15, but the 49ers rallied back for the third consecutive game to tie the score at 24-24. The Gaels won the next two points to take a 26-24 lead, forcing the 49ers to take their final timeout. Saint Mary's used a solo block by Kolkka to finish off the third game, beating the 49ers 30-27. The Gaels were led by Salzman, who had five kills. Stidham and Kolkka added four kills in the game and Bible had 13 assists.

In Game 4, the Gaels once again took an early lead thanks to the serving of Kirk, jumping out to a 17-13 lead. Saint Mary's continued to lead 23-18, forcing the 49ers to take their first timeout. The 49ers once again rallied to cut the lead to 26-25, before the Gaels scored the next point on a kill by Kolkka, forcing Long Beach State to take its final timeout. The Gaels continued to lead 29-28, but the 49ers scored the next two points, forcing the Gaels to call its first timeout. Long Beach State went on to win the game on a tough final point, winning the game 31-29.

Saint Mary's begins West Coast Conference action on Saturday, October 1 when it travels to San Francisco to take on the Dons at 7 p.m.