MORAGA, Calif. — The final week of the 2021 indoor season has arrived for Saint Mary's, as the Gaels begin their final home-stand, which spans three matches and bleeds into next week. This weekend, Saint Mary's will welcome in two of the top teams in the NCAA when #23 San Diego and #4 BYU arrive to Moraga, with the BYU match serving as Senior Day for the Gaels.
 
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels (14-10, 8-7 WCC) vs. #23 San Diego Toreros (19-5, 13-2 WCC)
Thursday, November 18 at 7:00 pm
University Credit Union Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
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Saint Mary's Gaels vs. #4 BYU Cougars (25-1, 15-0 WCC)
Saturday, November 20 at 1:00 pm
University Credit Union Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
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LAST TIME OUT
For the final time away from home in 2021, Saint Mary's Volleyball made the short trip inland to take on the Tigers of Pacific on Friday night. With it being their lone match of the week, the Gaels capped off the road portion of their schedule by also concluding season series with Pacific. The Tigers were able to escape with a win in their home gym, dropping the Gaels to 14-10. The Gaels recorded a season-high 14 blocks in the loss, including Hawley Harrer and Selbie Christensen each recording seven block assists.
 
SENIOR DAY
Saturday afternoon is Senior Day for Saint Mary's, as it is the final weekend game of the 2021 indoor season. The Gaels have five seniors who will be ending their Saint Mary's careers this year: Christensen, Alosina Thompson, Kelsey Knudsen, Abigail Matoso, and Jennifer "Boo" Laird. All five have been key contributors throughout their SMC careers, and when healthy, all five find themselves in the lineup on a regular basis. Senior Day festivities will begin right before the scheduled 1 pm first-serve.
 
ABOUT SAN DIEGO
The Toreros had been climbing up the NCAA rankings during WCC play, but took a tumble down to No. 23 in the rankings this week after losing to now-No. 25 Pepperdine on Saturday in five sets. They only have two losses this season to teams outside the top-25 in the NCAA, and they beat the Gaels handily in straight sets in September. This is the best blocking team in the WCC, led by the conference's top blocker in Leyla Blackwell, who has 1.44 blocks per set, including 26 solo blocks. Grace Frohling is one of the top attackers in the conference as well, with 336 kills (3.82 per set), and a .295 hitting percentage.
 
ABOUT BYU
It's tough to find a flaw in the play of BYU this season, as the Cougars have lost just one match all season, coming to the now-No. 3 team in the country in Pitt. BYU actively leads the WCC and the NCAA in both hitting percentage and opponent's hitting percentage, and have the leading three attackers in the conference based on hitting percentage. They are looking for their first undefeated season in the WCC, and their first undefeated conference record since 1993. BYU has not gone to five sets in a match in conference play, and just once on the season.
 
#GaelsRise – Single game tickets are on sale now for the remainder of the 2021 season. Grab your tickets HERE!