MORAGA, Calif. — After having time off to reset and refresh after dropping a pair of matches at home last weekend, Saint Mary's Volleyball returned to University Credit Union Pavilion for a rare Friday night WCC clash against the Pacific Tigers. The Gaels used that rest to their advantage, getting back one of their key attackers and looking like a recharged team. They never relinquished a set on their way to a 3-0 win over the Tigers, with scores of 25-17, 25-18, and 25-23. The Gaels are back over the .500 mark with a 9-8 (3-5) record while the Tigers fall to 7-12 (4-4).
 
CHANDLER COMES BACK
After missing three games due to injury, Chandler Cowell returned the lineup and made an immediate impact. Slotted back in her usual outside hitter role, Cowell was doing a bit of everything for the Gaels. She led SMC with 11 kills and was efficient with just three attack errors; she tied for the team lead with four total blocks, which set a season-best; and she was tied for second on the Gaels with eight digs. She also added one of the five aces for the Gaels, and provided an energy that was lacking one week prior.
 
NEVER LOOKING BACK
The Tigers were competitive in all three sets, but Saint Mary's had enough fire power to muscle their way past. In the first set, the score was tied 11-11 when a 4-0 run with Kelsey Knudsen serving pushed the Gaels up by four, a lead they would eventually enlarge to eight points just before it closed. A 5-1 run was the culprit at that point, capped off by an ace from Ella Sandt and a kill from the leading attacker in the first set, Hawley Harrer. Another strong performance in the middle of set two pushed SMC in front, after trialing 8-7. Saint Mary's rattled off eight of the next nine points, with a pair of blocks and an ace from Selbie Christensen, and suddenly they were in front 18-11.
 
TENSE MOMENTS
It seemed for a moment like Pacific might claw their way back and take a set from Saint Mary's, but the Gaels had other ideas. Neither team led by more than three points in the entire set, but the Tigers did lead 18-16 late. Three-straight errors from the Tigers gave SMC the lead, but then the Tigers got two points to take it right back. Saint Mary's then used a kill from Trinity Durfee, a block from Harrer and Jennifer "Boo" Laird, and a Tigers error to lead 23-21. Two-straight points from Pacific tied things up at 23-23, setting up a dash for the next two points. Saint Mary's was able to escape with the sweep after a Pacific error and a kill from Ashley Reed, one of four on the night for her.
 
CHANDLER CHIRPS
"It felt nice to get back out there with my team and I had every bit of confidence in them. They had my back and I had theirs, and it was a great team win all around. This whole week we've been practicing consistency, getting diligent reps, and I think it turned out tonight." – Chandler Cowell
 
HAWLEY HARPS
"We really had all-around consistency with the serve-and-pass game and it makes a big difference. It makes the game a lot more fluid and I was happy with the way we showed up tonight." – Hawley Harrer
 
BROWNING BITES
"It was a really consistent performance from start to finish. We didn't have any ups and downs. Pacific is a really good team that has played some really tough teams, but we were ready for a good team and they brought it. We were focused and steady and we did a good job in serve-and-pass battle, and that's important." – head coach, Rob Browning
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will remain in the Bay Area next weekend as they travel to San Francisco to take on the Dons and Santa Clara to take on the Broncos. The Dons are up first, with Thursday's match on the Hilltop scheduled for 7:00 pm.
 
#GaelsRise – Single game tickets are on sale now for the remainder of the 2021 season. Grab your tickets HERE!