STOCKTON, Calif. -- Strong play in each of the first two sets put the Saint Mary's volleyball team in position to earn a result at Pacific but the host Tigers had just enough to escape both challenges as the Gaels fell 25-23, 25-23, 25-11 at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
Samantha Tinsley led the Saint Mary's with 10 kills and eight digs Saturday. Clare Powers added eight kills and 12 digs while Alexis Salmons had six digs and five blocks. Lexi Elman led Pacific with 13 kills.
Early in Saturday's match, Saint Mary's bore little resemblance to the team that fell in three to San Francisco on Tuesday. This time around, the Gaels came out firing, playing well on defense and setting up the offense it wanted to run. The early beneficiary of that improvement was Loos, as the senior scored the first five points for the Gaels. Her kill directly up the middle of the court put Saint Mary's up 15-9 and kept the momentum in SMC's favor.
Pacific (14-3, 3-1 West Coast Conference) never let the set get out of touch though, and keeping it close paid off at the end. A block by Kat Schulz and Gillian Howard tied the score at 23, a tip attempt by SMC landed wide and Elman sent home the final kill of the set to give the Tigers a 25-23 victory.
The second set featured even more solid play from Saint Mary's, and for every charge Pacific made, the Gaels seemed to have an answer. SMC's net defense was definitely a strength, with the Gaels sending down seven blocks during the set led by four by Alexis Salmons.
Again though, for as much as Saint Mary's (4-10, 0-4) looked ready to take control at several points, the Tigers hung around and pounced late in the set to steal the win. Tied at 23, Elman's kill put Pacific back in front and a block by Elman and Howard provided the final point in a 25-23 Tigers win.
Two close calls served to wake the Tigers up, and the hosts came out in the third on fire. A five-point run highlighted by two kills by Kimmy Whitson put Pacific in control with a 10-4 lead and, after a service error gave Saint Mary's a brief respite, two more points pushed the Tigers' lead to 12-5 and forced an SMC time out. The Gaels fought to get back in it from there but Pacific stayed on top and Schulz ended things with a cross-court kill for the final point.
Saturday's match wraps a week away from home for the Gaels, who return home next Wednesday at 8 p.m. to host San Diego in a match that will be televised nationally on ESPNU and WatchESPN.com. Saint Mary's hosts BYU next Saturday at 1 p.m. to finish the week.
