BVB | Gaels Begin 2016 Season At Stanford
3/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. — Though the first day of spring has not officially come, the beach volleyball season has finally arrived, with the Saint Mary's beach volleyball team opening its 2016 season this weekend at the Stanford Invitational, where it will face four opponents.
Saint Mary's will play four matches over two days on Saturday and Sunday this weekend at Stanford's Sand Volleyball Stadium. Saturday brings matches versus Sacramento State at 8:30 a.m. and San Francisco at 2:30 p.m. Sunday the Gaels will play Pacific at 8:30 a.m. and host Stanford at 2:30 p.m.
The Gaels enter their fourth season of competition as a program with one of the youngest rosters in the country. Senior Dalas Dodd will lead a team with seven first-year players and four other second-year players, with Alexis Salmons serving as the team's only junior.
We feel that we have a very deep team this year," said Saint Mary's head coach Jordan Shaw, "with beach volleyball experience from top to bottom. We are confident that all of our pairs will find a lot of success this season."
2016 also marks the first year that the NCAA will hold a national championship for women's beach volleyball. This year's NCAA Championship is to be held on May 6-8 at the Gulf Shores Public Beach in Gulf Shores, Ala. The eight-team championship will be hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the city of Gulf Shores and the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Sports Commission.
The West Coast Conference will also hold its first beach volleyball championship this season on April 22-23 in Santa Monica.
(The first year of official NCAA beach volleyball) is extremely exciting because it means that enough programs are now seeing what a great opportunity and sport that beach volleyball is, and it places a little more importance and expectation on the season and the end goals we have to reach the NCAA Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala.
EXPERIENCE AT THE TOP
Dodd will be key for the Gaels' first season in official NCAA beach volleyball competition as she returns for her fifth year at Saint Mary's, having been a member of the beach volleyball team for all four years of its existence.
As Dalas goes into her fifth and final senior season with SMC I know she has the right mindset and go-for-it attitude that will set a great example for the rest of the pairs as well," said Shaw. "Her leadership on and off the court in small and big ways has been amazing and we're very lucky to have her back, especially with such a young team."
YOUNG TALENT THROUGHOUT
Freshman Lindsey Knudsen, a member of the All-WCC Freshmen Team for indoor volleyball in the fall, looks to contribute early and at the top, potentially pairing with Dodd to make a dynamic duo.
There is lots of experience between the two of them," said Shaw about Dodd and Knudsen. "They'll be a top team to keep your eye on as their level is very impressive for the age range between the two of them. They are a very fun and enthusiastic pair that will make some pretty spectacular plays and matches throughout the season."
Sophomores Mary Hernandez and Madi Wilkerson will be key at the top of the Gaels' rotation as well, with freshmen Emily Bible, Lindsey Calvin, Agnieszka Kudziela and Payton Rund all figuring to be a part of the mix.
TOUGH, THOROUGH SCHEDULE
Though there are not any preseason nationally ranked teams on the Gaels' schedule, they will face plenty of stiff competition throughout the spring as they fight for seeding at the WCC Championships and, hopefully, the NCAA Championship.
We're excited for our schedule because we will face off against several of our WCC opponents multiple times this beach season and each year it becomes significantly more competitive as each program develops and progresses," said Shaw. "I think the competition in Northern California is better than it has ever been and we are really excited for the challenge and goal of being the best team in NorCal this season."
Saint Mary's faces Pac-12 Conference East Bay rival California three times and Stanford twice this season. They will also face Pac-12 member Oregon while taking on WCC foes Pacific, Portland, San Francisco and Santa Clara.
We're very ready to face off against some different teams other than ourselves this weekend and the girls have worked really hard since day one of January Term to make improvements and get in shape," said Shaw. "Hopefully we will get to see the results of that work pay off for the girls this weekend and beyond."
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-date news, photos, videos and other features you can follow Saint Mary's College varsity athletic teams on Twitter (@SMCGaels), Instagram (@SMCGaels) and Facebook (Facebook.com/SMCGaels). You can also watch great video on-demand highlights and features as well as most Gaels sporting events live via GaelVision on SMCGaels.com.
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A gift to the Gael Athletic Fund directly benefits Saint Mary's student-athletes. This allows them the opportunity to attain an education guided by our Catholic, Lasallian and Liberal Arts traditions while participating in a competitive athletic experience. Monies raised through the Fund will assist in funding scholarships, facilities, operating budgets and academic support.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
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