MORAGA, Calif. — In most years, saying that soccer and volleyball are starting up in the month of August is a ho-hum, run-of-the-mill statement. They are fall sports, and thus it is no surprise that as the calendar turns to August, they return to the field and to the court. In 2021, however, it means just a little bit more.
 
Fall sports are back in their normal seasons for Saint Mary's, and it's an exciting time to be a Gaels fan. Let's dive into the soccer teams and volleyball, the first three returning sports, as their seasons are set to begin.
 
BRINGING BACK THE TITLE?
The last two fall seasons of men's soccer action, the West Coast Conference title has resided in Moraga. With a young roster playing in a condensed spring season in 2021, the Gaels fell to second in the WCC standings, succumbing the title to Loyola Marymount. A year of experience and a sense of normalcy should give the Gaels a chance to reclaim their crown and bring a championship back to SMC.
 
"The new freshmen class is working really hard," said Andrew Rotter, a freshman himself one season ago. "We have some standout recruits that are coming together as a group and we are coming together as a team with the younger guys."
 
Redemption seems to be on the mind of some Gaels, which they are using as a motivation tool to get themselves back into postseason play. SMC lost in their final home game of the season to LMU 3-1, which clinched the WCC title to the Lions. Despite being ranked at the end of the season, the Gaels were snubbed from the NCAA Tournament in North Carolina, making this year one where every single player has two things in mind: win a WCC title, and get back to the NCAA Tournament.
 
"I literally think about that game every single time I put on my cleats," Christian Engmann said about the final home game of the year for Saint Mary's in the spring. "Not making the tournament is also motivation. Coach Cooper tells us every day to play with a chip on our shoulders. Seeing LMU lift the trophy on our field…I remember every moment of that. Every day in practice that motivates us to win. We're ready to rock and roll."
 
#GAELSRISE, LITERALLY
In just one season under head coach Theresa Romagnolo, the Gaels went from a bottom feeders in the WCC into a team with legitimate aspirations of contending for a top spot. After starting the season 0-3-2, with three matches going into double overtime, the Gaels rallied to end the season 4-4-3, going 4-1-1 over their last six matches. Just as impressive, they went 4-3-2 on the year in WCC play, finishing in the top half of the conference, and even scoring a draw against #17 BYU.
 
"I'm very excited," preseason All-WCC goalkeeper Taylor Poland said.  "Where we are at right now coming in is so much better than where we were last year coming in. With the newcomers and the returners, we have so much talent and I can't wait."
 
Saint Mary's only lost one player from a season ago, and added 13 new student-athletes to the roster, making this year's squad the largest in SMC Women's Soccer history. That group will be put to the test during the fall campaign, where the Gaels have a full schedule of 20 games on deck.
 
"It just feels a little more normal for us," fifth-year senior AnnaMaria DiGeronimo mentioned. "We are so used to our fall season and knowing that we have 20 games ahead versus 10 is exciting because it gives us more time to build on things throughout the season."
 
SUCCESS IS SERVED
Few teams in the country can say they are returning their entire roster from one season ago, but that's what Gaels Volleyball can claim for the fall of 2021. Familiarity, with the addition of some talented freshmen, make this a group worth watching during the upcoming season. While the WCC has loads of talent on the court, it seems that experience could be a key that helps push the Gaels back towards the top of the WCC standings.
 
"We've made so much progress in a short amount of time. It already feels like we are meshing really well," senior outside hitter Selbie Christensen said. "Our freshmen came into this season already ready to go and they are able to adapt to our system really quickly. Our whole team is doing a great job being leaders on and off the court."
 
So much of what Saint Mary's will rely on this season is having a deeper roster. At times last season, once injuries were accounted for, the Gaels only had nine healthy players. This year, there's a grand total of 16 on the roster, making this year's Gaels team a lot deeper, and more talented than last season's team. That deep roster is showing on all levels, and making an impression on the team's longest-tenured player.
 
"There's a sense of trust that we have with each other on the court. Everybody is a leader," says fifth year middle blocker Jennifer "Boo" Laird. "We don't have one single leader on our team. I see leadership from everyone, from the freshmen to grad students."
 
#GaelsRise — Single game tickets are on sale through the month of September for ALL fall sports! To select your game and your tickets, click HERE!