MORAGA, Calif. - The Saint Mary's women's volleyball team had their most efficient night on the attack, hitting a season-high .296 on the evening. Five Gaels hit over .250 as SMC pounded Gonzaga in straight-sets Thursday evening 25-18, 25-20, 25-16 in front of a loud crowd in McKeon Pavilion.
Saint Mary's (7-10/1-4 WCC) notched their first conference win of the season on the strength of 44 kills on 98 attempts with just 15 errors for a .296 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, SMC's defense proved to be just as daunting to the Bulldogs, who hit just .136 with 34 kills on 110 attempts with 19 errors.
The Gaels attack was led by sophomore outside hitter Jordan Shaw who put on a clinic on efficiency, nailing a match-high 13 kills on 25 attempts for a .30 hitting percentage. The only other player in the match to finish in double-figures in kills was freshman Samantha Tinsley who came out on fire with six kills in the first set. She finished with 10 on the evening on 23 swings with three errors for a .304 hitting percentage.
Gabby Jolly, Lauren Corp, and Natalie Loos all finished with six kills apiece. Jolly set the tone early with two massive blasts in the first set. Corp tallied seven digs, an ace and two total blocks (one solo) for an all around solid evening. Loos was a force at the net recording seven total blocks (four solo). Sarah Reams recorded a match-high 17 digs, while Missy White finished the night with a match-high 38 assists and seven digs with an ace.
Gonzaga (6-10/0-5 WCC) was led by middle blocker Meredith Crenshaw's seven kills on 17 swings with four errors for a .176 attack percentage, Laura Day was second with six kills on 22 attempts with four errors. Terran Poindexter led the Bulldogs with a .626 hitting percentage, recording five kills on eight attempts.
In the opening set, Saint Mary's took advantage right away. Gonzaga's Kristina Lavrisha started off the match with a service error. From there SMC didn't look back, the Gaels never allowed the Bulldogs to the tie set up. Jolly and Shaw combined for three quick points to go up 4-0 early. The Gaels recorded 18 kills on 37 attempts with seven errors for a .297 hitting percentage in the first set. With the Gaels leading 12-6 following a kill by White, SMC kept up the pressure and took the set 25-18 following a kill by Corp.
In the second set, Gonzaga took control early, going up 3-1 early. The set was a tight one, featuring nine ties and five lead changes. The Gaels battled back to tie it up at five on an error by on an attack by Day. The two sides battled back and forth tying the set six times, with the Gaels leading 19-18 after a kill by Corp. SMC took care of business from there holding on to take the set 25-20 following a kill by Shaw. SMC hit .250 their lowest total of the evening.
In the third and final set it was all Saint Mary's. The Gaels came out on fire to put the Bulldogs away. Midway through the set the Gaels led 7-2 and recorded six kills on nine swings. They finished the match hitting .360 with 12 kills on 25 attempts with just three errors for a .360 hitting percentage. SMC also did an excellent job of forcing side outs, doing it 76 percent of the time. The Gaels took the set 25-16 on a service error by the Bulldogs, their 29th error of the evening.
The Gaels will return to action on Saturday, October 8 at 1:00 p.m. when SMC hosts the Portland Pilots.
