MORAGA, Calif. — With the 2021 season winding down, Saint Mary's Volleyball had one more piece of business to tend to: the San Francisco Dons. Taking on San Francisco to close out the 2021 season, the Gaels made quick work on Tuesday night, ending the year with a sweep of the Dons on finals of 25-23, 25-12, and 25-17. Saint Mary's closes out the year with a 15-12 record, and ends WCC play with a 9-9 mark, their best since the 2018 campaign.
 
ALL-TIME PERFORMANCE
The 2021 season is one for the record books for Jennifer "Boo" Laird, who made history on Tuesday night. Laird set the single-season program record for best hitting percentage by closing out the year with a .361 mark. The previous record was held by Shannon Lowell from the 2009 season with her .355 clip. Laird was great again on Tuesday night in setting the record, finishing with eight kills and no attack errors. For the entire season, she ends with just 32 attack errors, an impressive mark for even the best attackers in the conference.
 
WITH A PURPOSE
While San Francisco might not have the strongest defense in the conference, the Gaels were able to swing with a purpose on Tuesday night, putting up their best attacking percentage of the season. Led by Laird and her eight kills, Saint Mary's hit at a .373 clip on the evening, easily their best mark of the season. Saint Mary's had just eight attack errors against the Dons, and everyone who took at least two swings was in the positives. Elena Baka finished the year well with seven kills and one error, while Selbie Christensen used a strong first set to end the night with six kills.
 
11 IS THE NUMBER
After the Dons took the Gaels to the wire in the first set, Saint Mary's opened it up early in the second set. The Gaels recorded the first 11 points of the set, their largest run during the 2021 season. Alosina Thompson was back serving for the Gaels and she delivered without having an ace on the run. Four Gaels kills were put up, including two very early in the run by Kristen Erland, and Saint Mary's would never look back.
 
AMONG OTHER NUMBERS
Thompson paced the Gaels with 14 assists, one better than Ella Sandt…Kelsey Knudsen was the team leader in digs with seven…the Gaels block was dominant, with 11 blocks and seven different players chipping in…Baka was the best at the line for the Gaels, with three service aces.
 
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