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SMC California Athletics

Saint Mary's College Athletics Gaels
Team Celebration
Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
3
Winner Saint Mary's (CA) SMC 10-17,6-11 WCC
1
Pacific UOP 13-16,5-12 WCC
Winner
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC
10-17,6-11 WCC
3
Final
1
Pacific UOP
13-16,5-12 WCC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC 25 25 21 25 (3)
Pacific UOP 18 19 25 16 (1)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

VB | Gaels Tame Tigers In Four-Set Road Victory

MORAGA, Calif. — The Gaels had a strong road performance on Friday night as they downed the Tigers in four sets. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

SET ONE | Saint Mary's took the first two points of the match on Friday before Pacific was able to go on a 5-0 run and take the three point lead. The two teams traded points back and forth before SMC scored six consecutive points to regain the lead 15-10, which forced the Tigers to take a timeout. Following the break, the Gaels only continued to extend their lead to seven points before the Tigers were able to score again. It wasn't enough of a push from Pacific as SMC took advantage of a number of service errors from the Tigers and broke out to a ten-point lead. UOP was able to score five points in a row late in the set, it was Saint Mary's who prevailed and took the 25-18 victory in set one. Senior Aubrey Pitts led the squad with five kills in the first, while senior Alexsa "Crash" Parker had the team-high, five digs. 

SET TWO | The Gaels scored the first three points of the second set following three attack errors from the Tigers. The teams went point-for-point, however Saint Mary's continued to hold a five-to-six point advantage over Pacific. SMC eventually broke out to a 16-8 lead over UOP that the Tigers would not be able to come back from. The Gaels eventually pulled out to a 12-point lead over the Tigers and regardless of a five-point run in the final moments, it was Saint Mary's that secured the 25-19 win in set two. Pitts continued to lead in kills (eight) following the second set, while Jennifer "Boo" Laird had the most block assists (four) on the team.

SET THREE | SMC and UOP began the third set by trading points with neither team taking more than a two-point lead until late in the set. The Gaels took a timeout with Pacific up 12-10 and following a number of winning rallies, Pacific finally went up by four points 19-15 following a 5-0 run. The Gaels took a timeout and scored the following two points, but the Tigers scored another as well and set the score at 20-17. SMC scored next bring them within two points, but UOP responded with two points of their own. The Gaels then picked up their 19th point of the set, but again Pacific responded with two points. Saint Mary's scored the next two consecutive points forcing the Tigers to take a timeout as they held the 24-21 lead. Pacific would come back from the break and score the final point needed as they took the third set 25-21 over the Gaels. Saint Mary's was holding Pacific to a clip of just .177 after three periods of action.

SET FOUR | Saint Mary's went on a 6-0 run to open the fourth set and eventually held a 10-2 advantage over Pacific before extending it to 13 points shortly after. The Tigers continued to be plagued by attack errors in the fourth set and had 27 by the mid-way point in the period. UOP came back within four points of the Gaels (20-16) but it wasn't enough as SMC continued to land kill after kill against their opponent. It was Saint Mary's who took the win in the end as they won 25-16.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
  • 12: Pitts recorded a season-high, 12 kills against Pacific, just one shy of Breyan Ashley who led the team
  • 6: Pitts and senior Alex O'Sullivan tied with six block assists apiece
  • 6: Service aces for Saint Mary's compared to Pacific, who recorded two
  • .145: The Tigers' hitting percentage against the Gaels

UP NEXT: SAN FRANCISCO

The Gaels will play their final regular season match of the year on Tuesday as they return to the Bay Area to face off against the San Francisco Dons at 7:00 p.m.
 
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