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SMC California Athletics

Saint Mary's College Athletics Gaels
Chandler Cowell

Women's Volleyball

VB | Gaels to Face Cal in Home/Away Series This Week

Match #9
Saint Mary's Gaels (4-4) at California Golden Bears (8-0)
Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Berkeley, Calif. — Haas Pavilion
Live Stats 
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Match #10
Saint Mary's Gaels (4-4) vs. California Golden Bears (8-0)
Saturday, September 21, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. 
Moraga, Calif. — McKeon Pavilion
Live Stats 
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MORAGA, Calif. –– The Gaels will be traveling through the Caldecott Tunnel on Thursday to take on the California Golden Bears, before returning to Moraga to face them again on Saturday.

SCOUTING REPORT
Saint Mary's improved to 4-4 this weekend after going 2-0 against Cornell and Utah State at the Bay Area Invitational. The Gaels took Cornell to five sets on Friday and completed the comeback to win 3-2, before sweeping Utah State on Saturday.

Freshman Elena Baka was named to the All-Tournament Team following a stellar weekend. Baka recorded a total of 31 kills during the tournament and, in her first game at McKeon Pavilion, she collected a new career-high 17 during the match against Cornell. She also nabbed five blocks, four of which came in the game against the Big Red which was good for a new career-high, surpassing her previous record of three against Southern Utah. Baka also recorded three service aces included two during her debut match at McKeon.

Sophomore Breyan Ashley was also named to the All-Tournament Team after a dominant performance for the Gaels. She recorded 26 kills, 15 of which came during the match against Cornell which is just four short of her season-high recorded against Boise State. She also collected six service aces in the tournament, three in each game, which now stands as her new season-high. Baka and Ashley recorded a total of 56 kills for the Gaels over the weekend, which accounted for more than half of the team's total kills over the course of the tournament.

Senior Aubrey Pitts entered the rankings this week as she is ranked second in the conference in blocks per set (1.33). The team as a whole is now ranked second in the conference in blocks per set (2.19). Alexsa "Crash" Parker is also ranked 6th in the WCC in aces per set (0.52). 

CALIFORNIA
The Golden Bears have been dominant thus far this season as they are 8-0 and received votes this week in the AVCA top-25 poll. They went 2-0 last Friday at the North Dakota State Tournament after sweeping Buffalo and beating North Dakota State 3-1. Cal has yet to play a game on their home court this season and will be hosting Saint Mary's for their home-opener. The Golden Bears have swept five of their opponents this season and in each of the other three matches, they have not allowed their opponents to win more than one set. Following the two games against the Gaels, Cal will begin Pac-12 play with a match against No.1 Stanford. When the two teams met last season, the Gaels swept the Bears for the first time since 1998.
 
#GaelsRise –  For ticket information to all home volleyball games, call the SMC Ticket Office today at 925-631-4689.
 
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Players Mentioned

Alexsa "Crash" Parker

#14 Alexsa "Crash" Parker

S
5' 8"
Senior
Aubrey Pitts

#7 Aubrey Pitts

MB
6' 2"
Senior
Elena Baka

#15 Elena Baka

OH
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Alexsa "Crash" Parker

#14 Alexsa "Crash" Parker

5' 8"
Senior
S
Aubrey Pitts

#7 Aubrey Pitts

6' 2"
Senior
MB
Elena Baka

#15 Elena Baka

6' 1"
Freshman
OH