MORAGA, Calif. – The Gaels wrapped up their roadtrip on Saturday as they were unable to complete the comeback and fell 3-1 against San Diego.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• SET ONE | The Gaels and the Toreros began Saturday afternoon neck-and-neck by trading the initial points of the set, before USD pulled out to an 8-3 lead. Saint Mary's was able to hold San Diego for most of the set and keep them from extending their lead beyond five points, but the Toreros eventually went on a 6-2 run to take the 17-10 lead and forced SMC to take a timeout. The Gaels fought hard through the remainder of the set, but were unable to overcome the early lead and San Diego went on to win 25-16. Seniors Aubrey Pitts and Alex O'Sullivan led the team in the first with two kills each as well as a combined three blocks.

• SET TWO | Saint Mary's went 4-1 to begin the second set before the two teams were able to tie the set at seven apiece. The Gaels and the Toreros traded points back and forth into the middle of the set, but after winning a number of longer rallies, USD took a 19-13 lead as SMC took their first timeout of the set. Saint Mary's would not go down without a fight and continued to push the offense in order to win set two 26-24. Pitts recorded two block solos in the second period and ended the set with a total of three block solos, three block assists, and six kills. Senior Alexsa "Crash" Parker and sophomore Alosina Thompson were close in assists with seven and six respectively.

• SET THREE | While the two teams kept close during the first moments of the third set, the Toreros took advantage of a 5-0 run shortly after and pulled out to a 13-4 lead. After the Gaels took a timeout, they went on a 4-0 run of their own to bring the score within four points, but San Diego kept up their pace from earlier in the set and eventually gained a 21-13 lead over Saint Mary's . The Gaels would not go down without a fight as they came back within five points of USD and fought off two set-points, but they would eventually fall 25-19 in the third set. Parker recorded two service aces in the set to lead the team while sophomore Selbie Christensen took over as the block assist leader with four. 

• SET FOUR | SMC took the first four points of the fourth set until the two teams tied at 6-6 and continued to tie the match at multiple points including 12-12. The Toreros were able to take hold of a 19-15 lead as the Gaels took a timeout, but SMC took the following two points after the break. It was not enough in the end, and the Toreros won set four 25-19, thus winning the match 3-1.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 12: Total blocks for the Gaels against USD, just two shy of their season-high (14)
• 11, 3: Pitts recorded a new season-high in kills on Saturday, surpassing her previous record (9), as well as a new season-high in block solos
• 15: Parker and Thompson tied for assist-leader on the team with 15 apiece
• 9: Redshirt freshman Kelsey Knudsen led the team with nine digs in the match.

UP NEXT

The Gaels will return to Moraga for their final homestand of the season this week with a match against Portland on Thursday (7:00 p.m.) and a match versus Gonzaga on Saturday (1:00 p.m.).