MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's fought hard against No. 9 BYU, forcing them to extra points in the final set, but the Gaels eventually fell 3-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• SET ONE | The Gaels and the Cougars began Saturday's match by trading the first couple of points before BYU took a 6-3 lead. Saint Mary's took the first timeout of the set with BYU ahead by six points. Following the break, the Cougars remained in control of the lead and eventually increased the gap to 19-9, forcing SMC to take their second timeout. The Gaels couldn't overcome the Cougars strong lead and BYU went on to win the set 25-12.

• SET TWO | BYU took the first three points of the second set before SMC claimed their first point following a long rally. The Gaels then tied the match 3-3 before taking their first lead of the game shortly after. Saint Mary's then took a 6-4 lead after Alexsa "Crash" Parker and Breyan Ashley both recorded aces. The Cougars came back and tied the match at 7 apiece, but SMC still had control of the momentum and BYU was forced to play catch up through the middle of the set. At the first timeout, the Cougars had regained the lead (14-9) and continued to hold a five-point lead late into the set. BYU continued to hold the advantage over the Gaels and at the second timeout, they led 20-14. Saint Mary's shortened the gap to two points (24-22) in the final moments of the set and forced BYU to take a timeout, but it wasn't enough to take the lead and the Cougars took set two 25-22.

• SET THREE | The Cougars pulled out to an early 5-2 lead over the Gaels after starting the third set with a 4-1 run. Saint Mary's then tied the match up 7-7 before taking a 11-8 lead shortly after and forcing BYU to take a timeout. SMC extended their lead to 13-8 following the break to increase their run to 6-1. The Cougars fought back and tied the match at 15-15 and the two teams began trading points back and forth. Saint Mary's kept the momentum up and regained the lead (20-18), again forcing the Cougars to take a timeout. BYU was able to take the lead 21-20, but SMC tied it 21 apiece right after. The final moments of the third set were nail-biters and the two teams forced extra points but the Cougars eventually took the final set 29-27.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 13: Number of kills for senior Sienna Young, just two shy of her season-high
• 27: Most points scored by the Gaels in a single match this year
• 3: Jennifer "Boo" Laird led the team with three assisted blocks

UP NEXT

Saint Mary's will head to the Pacific Northwest next week for matches against Gonzaga and Portland. The Gaels will visit the Bulldogs on Thursday for a match at 6:00 p.m. before traveling south to face off against the Pilots on Saturday at noon.

#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.