MORAGA, Calif. — Things get so tense during the fifth set in volleyball that it often goes either way, with predictability thrown out the window. With how it's been for Saint Mary's this year, perhaps going five is the magic recipe. Saint Mary's and Portland played five sets on Tuesday afternoon inside UCU Pavilion, and the Gaels were able to escape with the five-set win, with scores of 25-19, 28-30, 21-25, 25-19, and 15-11. All three of the Gaels wins this year (3-6 overall) have been in five sets, while Portland falls to 1-8.
 
HARRER GETS HOT (AGAIN)
Hawley Harrer has suddenly become the Gaels strongest attacker. After posting 12 kills and 11 kills against Gonzaga last week, Harrer was the leader for Saint Mary's again on Tuesday, going for another career-best in kills with 17. She went without an error for over three sets, overall finishing with a hitting percentage of 31.7%. Her efforts in the first set (four kills) and in the fourth set (when the Gaels mounted their comeback) were instrumental in getting the Gaels the win.
 
COMING FROM BEHIND
Unlike other five set matches the Gaels have had this year, where they have been trading sets with their opponent, they let Portland take both the second and the third sets, putting the Gaels in a hole. Portland opened up a 9-5 lead in the fourth set, but the Gaels found their groove. Jennifer "Boo" Laird tied the match up at 11-11 with a kill, and the Gaels got the lead at 16-15 on a setting error from Portland. Saint Mary's eventually went on a 3-0 run, capped by a kill from Elena Baka, to make it 20-17, and the Gaels would go on from there to take the fourth set and set up the fifth.
 
PLAYING FROM AHEAD
Unlike the fourth set, the Gaels did not need to come back in the fifth set, getting five of the first six points of the deciding set. The biggest stretch of the set, however, was after Portland closed in and made it 10-9 SMC. Chandler Cowell found a rhythm, picking up two kills in a three-point stretch, and the Gaels were suddenly up 13-9. Cowell would again be the one to cap it off, after a Laird service ace, and the Gaels improved to 3-0 in five sets this year.
 
THE FINAL NUMBERS
The Gaels recorded their second-best attack percentage in a win this year (20.8%)…Saint Mary's had a big edge from the line, with 12 aces on the afternoon for a season-best, with Ella Sandt, Laird, and Baka each recording three…three Gaels were in double-digits in digs: Abigail "Abby" Matoso (18), Sandt (15), and Cowell (13)…the eight blocks for Saint Mary's were one off a season-best, with both Baka and Laird recording four total blocks...Selbie Christensen set a career-best with nine kills, and did not record an error in five sets.

BROWNING BITES
"We've been good about finishing long matches strong, and today was no exception. I'm proud of our team for that. Portland fought a lot harder than we did for much of the match. We need to learn how to fight and scrap for every single point. The goal is to get better every single day, including in matches. I hope we got better today. We're excited to play tomorrow." - head coach, Rob Browning
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's and Portland will run it back again tomorrow (Wednesday) at 2:00 pm once again before the quick two-match home stand ends. The Gaels will then play just once in the first week of March, with a road match at Pacific set to go on March 2.

CARDBOARD CUTOUTS
We are all excited that Saint Mary's athletics are back, but we understand that it's not quite the same since YOU, THE FANS, are not be able to attend in person. But that doesn't mean you can't be there in body (well, sort of) and spirit, supporting your Gael Athletic Programs! For $75, you can upload your photo to represent you as a cardboard cutout in the stands at one of 6venues on campus (Women's 'Volleyball in UCU Pavilion, Men's and Women's Soccer at Saint Mary's Stadium, Baseball at Louis Guisto Field, Men's and Women's Tennis at the Korth Tennis Complex, Softball at Cottrell Field, or Beach Volleyball at Saint Mary's Campus Courts). A link for more information can be found HERE.
 
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