SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Friday night was a role reversal of sorts between Saint Mary's Volleyball and Santa Clara. After the Gaels were able to beat the Broncos on Thursday night in Moraga in four sets, the Broncos turned the tide and took down Saint Mary's in four sets in Santa Clara. Saint Mary's was able to take the first set from the Broncos as they did on Thursday, but Santa Clara finished stronger in the final three sets. With the win, Santa Clara improves their record to 4-6 while the Gaels drop down to 7-8 with the defeat.
 
AS IT WERE
The Gaels got off to a fast start as they did during the final two sets on Thursday night, putting up an early 8-3 to advantage. It was Chandler Cowell once again lighting it up, after 16 kills a night before, with three early kills during the first six points of the match. The lead never shrunk below five the rest of the way, and it was as wide as nine points on multiple occasions, including the final set score of 25-16. Hawley Harrer was the one closing it out for SMC with a kill, and things looked great for Saint Mary's after one set.
 
ALSO AS IT WERE
Also in similar fashion to Thursday night, the Broncos came out energized in the second set, leading ultimately to a 25-19 win for the home team. The Gaels never led during the second set, forcing it tied at 3-3 but then trailing the rest of the way, seeing themselves down 19-11, just as they did to the Broncos at one point during the first set. With the score tied at 1-1, it was not unfamiliar territory for Saint Mary's, as they would go on to win the final two sets Thursday night and sought to do the same on Friday.
 
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
The third set proved crucial on Thursday and it was again on Friday, this time with the Broncos sneaking by. SCU and SMC went back and forth point after point, and Saint Mary's held a slim 16-15 lead midway through the set. The Broncos then used a 4-0 run to their advantage and that proved to be the difference-maker. The Gaels twice pulled within one, at 22-21 with an Elena Baka kill, and then again at 23-22 with a Selbie Christensen kill, but the Broncos got set point on a service error to take it 25-23 and give them enough momentum to seize the fourth set.
 
AMONG OTHER NUMBERS
Baka was the Gaels leading attacker for the third-straight match with 12 kills, followed by Harrer and her 11…Trinity Durfee was the best blocker for the Gaels, with one solo block and four assisted blocks…the teams tied in blocks for the second straight night, this time with seven…Ella Sandt recorded 22 assists while Alosina Thompson recorded a double-double in assists (12) and digs (10) for the second time this season (she also added two aces).
 
UP NEXT
Just two more indoor matches remain for Saint Mary's, as they take on a ranked-BYU squad next weekend to wrap up the year. The Cougars are in town on 4:00 pm on Friday, March 26, and then again on Saturday at 3:00 pm for what will serve as the Gaels' Senior Day. Following the completion of the indoor season, the Gaels will shift to the sand courts and play beach matches for the duration of April.