Leading up to the kickoff of the 2018 season, SMCGaels.com will take a daily look at the Saint Mary's volleyball team, going class by class.
 
MORAGA, Calif. — Though small, the sophomore class for the 2018 Saint Mary's volleyball team packs a punch, as Jennifer "Boo" Laird and Madison Baumann both return for their second seasons of collegiate volleyball.
 
Laird found playing time as a rookie last season, appearing in 18 matches. She logged 95 kills and had the fifth-most blocks on the team with 43. She twice had double-digit kills in a match, posting a season-high 11 at Pepperdine on Sept. 30, 2017, and 10 versus then-No. 10 BYU on Oct. 5.
 
Baumann also made her collegiate debut as a rookie last fall. She earned her first appearance at San Francisco on Oct. 19, logging her first career kill versus the Dons. SMC would eventually sweep that West Coast Conference match, 3-0, on the road. Both Laird and Baumann also played beach volleyball in the spring with the Gaels.
 
Laird and Baumann each look to play a more prominent role in their second seasons at Saint Mary's. Laird is a part of a deep core of Gael outside hitters that has both youth and experience. Baumann gives the Gaels length at the middle blocker position as she grows in the position and learns from veterans like senior Lindsey Calvin and redshirt junior Alex O'Sullivan.
 
Hear directly from the Gaels' sophomores below:
 
Jennifer "Boo" Laird | Outside Hitter | 5-11 | San Luis Obispo, Calif. | Mission Prep | #21

• On entering year two
  During my first year, my mindset was just do what's best for my team. But now that I know after playing my first year, I realize I'm a bigger part of the team now. So my mindset for this year is how I can help my team in so many ways on the court, doing my job and doing it well.
   
• Moving into a leadership role after being a freshman last year
  "It's a great feeling. Not only am I helping them but they're pushing me, because we have a great incoming freshmen class. I see them working really hard and really competing and going after it in practice. I know how some of them might be feeling and comparing themselves to other freshmen, so whenever I see one of them struggling, I say, 'Hey, this is what you need to do, it's OK. It's OK to mess up.'"
   
• Aspirations for 2018
  I think we're focusing a lot this year on team culture. We are clicking so well with each other and we came up with our own team mission statement. I can actually see how it's helping our team. Focusing each day and what am I going out there and playing for, it kind of gives you a new mindset.

Madison Baumann | Middle Blocker | 6-0 | San Carlos, Calif. | Notre Dame HS | #9

• On personal growth for 2018
  I'm super excited. I think I've improved a ton since last year. I feel like I'm finally at that level to compete against the other middles. I'm ready, so I'm really excited to see what (head coach) Rob (Browning) does. I'm hoping he gives me a chance to get in there and show him what I've got.
   
• Aspirations for the season
  I want to see every little relationship on the team super strong. I think it's important that we really, really work on our relationships on and off the court. Especially off the court, everything happens off the court.