MORAGA, Calif. – The Gaels came out hot on Saturday and never looked back as they completed the sweep of San Francisco.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• SET ONE | The Gaels and the Dons began the match on Saturday by trading points back and forth. San Francisco was then able to take advantage of a 5-0 run to pull out to an early 8-3 lead before extending it to 12-4 shortly after. Saint Mary's fought to keep it close with USF, but the Dons went on another 5-0 run to remain ahead 17-8 over SMC. The Gaels went on a late 4-0 run of their own which forced San Francisco to take a time out, before coming back and going 8-1 to tie the match at 21-21. The two teams went point-for-point late into the set before the Gaels were able to complete the comeback and win 29-27. At the end of the first, freshman Elena Baka led the team with six kills while senior Alex O'Sullivan was the team-leader with three block assists.
• SET TWO | Saint Mary's pulled out to a quick 5-1 lead in the second set before extending their lead to seven points (12-5) as San Francisco took their first timeout. SMC continued to remain ahead of USF as they achieved the 16-10 lead soon after the break. The Dons tried to regain the momentum with a 4-0 run, but Saint Mary's responded with a 5-1 run to extend their lead to 23-15 following four consecutive kills from the home team. SMC continued to pound the outside edges with kills and went on to win set two 25-17 The Gaels' were efficient at the net in the second set and had collected a total of nine blocks compared to the Dons' three by the end of the period. Four Gaels including O'Sullivan, sophomore Breyan Ashley, senior Aubrey Pitts, and sophomore Selbie Christensen each had four or more block solos.
• SET THREE | SMC took the first four points of the third set, forcing USF to take a very early timeout. Following the break, the Dons began scoring points of their own but the Gaels were keeping their lead of roughly four-to-five points. Towards the middle of the set, San Francisco pulled within two points of Saint Mary's (16-14) before pulling within one point shortly after (18-17). However, the Gaels were able to shut down the Dons' late offensive push and went on to win the set 25-20 and complete the sweep of San Francisco.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• 13: The Gaels recorded 13 blocks on Saturday compared to USF who had four
• 7: O'Sullivan led the team with seven block solos while Baka and senior
Sienna Young were close behind with six apiece
• .162: San Francisco's hitting percentage against the Gaels
• 6: Total service aces for Saint Mary's against the Dons
UP NEXT
The Gaels will hit the road for their next match as they travel to Provo to take on the BYU Cougars for a special Halloween match on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. PT.
