MORAGA, Calif. — The Gaels had a strong start on Saturday against Loyola Marymount, but ultimately fell 3-1 against the Lions. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

SET ONE | The Gaels and the Lions began the first set by trading points back-and-forth and responding to every point. The two teams continued this way for most of the set, with the teams tying on almost every other point until the match was tied 19-19. LMU scored the following two points, but Saint Mary's went on a 6-0 run to take the set one victory 25-21. Sophomore Breyan Ashley ended the set leading the team with four kills while Alosina Thompson ended with a team-high five assists.

SET TWO | The second set began similar to the first as the two teams went point-for-point through the beginning portion of the period. At one point the Lions were able to pull ahead 12-9, but it was short lived as the Gaels responded by tying the match 12-12. The teams continued to trade points until the end of the set when Loyola Marymount went on a 4-0 scoring run to end the set and win 25-20. At the end of set two, Ashley remained the kill-leader with six while redshirt-sophomore Kelsey Knudsen led the team with nine digs.

SET THREE | Loyola Marymount got out to a quicker start in the third set as they took a 9-4 lead over Saint Mary's, their biggest of the day thus far. The Gaels were able to pull back within a point of the Lions shortly after as they brought the score to 17-16. SMC then went on a 5-0 scoring streak to take the 21-18 lead over LMU before the Lions were able to tie it back up 21-21. Loyola Marymount was able to close it out and win 26-24 after a late surge in the set. By the end of the third period, the Gaels were holding the Lions to a .157 clip.

SET FOUR | The Gaels went up 7-3 in the beginning of the fourth set before breaking out a seven-point lead shortly after. The Lions fought to regain the lead, but SMC remained ahead by a steady margin until Loyola Marymount went on 5-1 run in the middle of the set and tied it 16-16. The two teams went back and forth until the final moments, but the Lions went on another 5-1 run to finish the set and win 25-23. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 4: Four Gaels recorded double-digit points on Saturday (Ashley - 14 pts, Young - 11 pts, Pitts - 10 pts, Baka - 10pts)
• 14, 10: Elena Baka (10 kills, 14 digs) and Breyan Ashley (14 kills, 11 digs) both recorded double-doubles in the contest.
• 5: Aubrey Pitts recorded a season-high, five block solos and ended the day with eight toal blocks

UP NEXT: PACIFIC

Saint Mary's will have almost a week off before their next match against the Pacific Tigers on Friday at 7:00 p.m. in Stockton.