MORAGA, Calif. – The Gaels kept San Diego on their toes on Thursday night, but the Toreros eventually pulled away and won in three sets.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• SET ONE | The Gaels and the Toreros traded the first points of the match, but San Diego soon pulled ahead to a 9-4 lead to begin the set. USD held a steady three-to-four point lead for a majority of the first set, but the Gaels were able to fight back to a score of 15-16. Saint Mary's continued to remain close to San Diego until the end, however the Toreros shut down their drive and took the first set 25-20. Senior Sienna Young made a number of key stops at the net and led the team with 3 assisted blocks by the end of set one.

• SET TWO | Saint Mary's went on a 5-1 run shortly after the second set began and pulled out to an early 6-3 lead. The Gaels kept San Diego on their toes and maintained the lead for the beginning portion of the set before the Toreros tied it up 12-12. Shortly after, USD gained their first lead of the second set and then took the 19-15 advantage just before the first timeout. San Diego kept the lead for the remainder of the set and went on to win 25-16.

• SET THREE | SMC and USD went point-for-point to begin the third set with neither team taking more than a two-point lead for most of the early set. The Toreros took a 14-10 lead following a 4-1 run before Saint Mary's took a timeout. Following the break, San Diego continued to extend their lead and went up 19-11. The Toreros pulled ahead 22-12 after a 9-1 run late in the set, the Gaels were unable to complete the comeback and they fell 25-14 in the third set.

QUOTABLES

"We definitely wanted to come out with lots of good energy tonight," said sophomore Alosina Thompson. "We knew they were a good team and we wanted to be able to match their energy which I think we did. Our strategy now is to take the energy and focus into Saturday's match against BYU."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 5: Service aces for the Gaels on Thursday night compared to San Diego (3)
• 2: Number of solo blocks for sophomore Jennifer "Boo" Laird, SMC had six total on the night
• 8: Sophomore Breyan Ashley and freshman Elena Baka recorded eight kills apiece.

UP NEXT

Saint Mary's will remain at home this weekend as they take on the visiting BYU Cougars at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

#GaelsRise – For ticket information to all home volleyball matches, call the SMC Ticket Office
today at 925-631-4689 or click the ticket link here to purchase your seats now.