VB: Gaels Outlast Tough Utah Valley Team

MORAGA, Calif. - The Saint Mary's women's volleyball overcame a gritty rally by Utah Valley to win their opening match in the Saint Mary's Tournament. SMC (5-5) took the first two sets before seeing the Wolverines swing the momentum in their favor to force a fifth set. Ultimately, the Gaels rebounded around a dominating effort in the fifth set winning 3-2 (25-20, 25-16, 17-25, 22-25, 15-10), Thursday night in McKeon Pavilion.

The Gaels improved to a perfect 5-0 when sporting a higher attack percentage and that's just what happened this evening, SMC hit .181 while holding Utah Valley to a .077 hitting percentage. SMC's stifling defense proved to be the difference as four players recorded double-digit dig totals and the team threw up a wall, collecting a season-high 17 total blocks including a 10 block effort from sophomore Natalie Loos.

Loos tallied a career-high seven solo blocks to go along with three block assists. The sophomore had easily her best match of the season, smashing nine kills on 18 swings for a .444 hitting percentage, to go along with a dig. Also joining in on the hit parade was freshman Samantha Tinsley who has provided a huge lift for the Gaels. She finished with a match-high 14 kills on 34 swings with two aces, 15 digs and three total blocks. The 14 kills and 15 digs gives her third career double-double.

Lauren Corp and Gabby Jolly each threw down 11 kills. Sarah Reams did a little of everything on Thursday, recording seven kills, four aces, 15 digs and three block assists. Meanwhile, Anna Schroeder recorded a career-high 14 digs. Missy White continues her solid play, recording her fifth double-double of the year with 47 assists and 11 digs, to go along with four kills, three aces and two total blocks.

In the first two sets, Saint Mary's appeared to be headed for a quick three-set sweep, defeating the Wolverines 25-20, and 25-16. While outhitting Utah Valley .194 to .036 in the first set and .414 to .118 in the second. In fact the first two sets featured just eight ties and two lead changes combined.

In the fourth and fifth set, Utah Valley came out of the break with renewed intensity, and were aided by costly Gael errors. Saint Mary's committed 23 errors in the third and fourth frame, while the Wolverines had their most productive sets, hitting a match-high .129 in the third and .122 in the fourth.

Midway through the fourth set, all the momentum was in the Wolverines favor as they led by six, 20-14 and was receiving energetic play from Erica Nish who led Utah Valley with 12 kills and five aces, most of that coming in the fourth set. However, a late push by the Gaels eventually the Utah Valley lead to one at 23-22, giving the Gaels a much needed boost for the fifth and final set.

Coming out of the break, the Gaels took control early and never let go. Saint Mary's hitting .133, needed just four kills as their defense and superior serving did most of the damage. SMC jumped out to a 3-0 lead aided by a White service ace and two Utah Valley errors. The Gaels pushed their lead to four at the break, going up 8-4 following another attack error by the Wolverines. Reams put SMC out front by seven, 11-4 following a clutch service ace. However, Utah Valley did not go away quietly, the Wolverines went on a mini 6-1 run to cut the lead to 12-10 and force the Gaels to use a timeout. Out of the timeout three-straight errors by Utah Valley sealed the deal 15-10.

In the first match of the evening, Kansas State rebounded from a first set loss to defeat Sacramento State 3-1 (17-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-11). The Wildcats recorded 61 kills on 150 swings for a .287 hitting percentage, while the Hornets recorded 49 kills on 134 swings for a .239 hitting percentage. Kansas State will play Utah Valley tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. before the Gaels take on Sacramento State at 7:00 p.m.

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GAELS IN THE PROS

CHAMPIONS

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