VB | SMC Starts Hot, Ends Hot to Sweep UC Davis

Friday, September 17

Moraga, CA

6:00 pm

Saint Mary's College of California

6-3,0-0WCC

UC Davis

4-7,0-0Big West

UC Davis

Saint Mary's (CA)

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

VB | SMC Starts Hot, Ends Hot to Sweep UC Davis

9/17/2021 8:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. — In recent matches, Saint Mary's Volleyball has had no problem coming out of the gates and looking like a dominant team. However, they've been winding up on the short end of the stick in the sets that remain, but Friday night, the Gaels were humming a different tune. After controlling Friday's match with UC Davis from the first serve, the Gaels were able to remain focused and lock down a three-set sweep of UC Davis, with finals of 25-12, 25-22, and 25-19. The Gaels will finish up non-conference play with a record of 6-3, while UC Davis drops to 4-7.

EFFICIENCY IS KEY
Saint Mary's tied their most efficient night of the season on the attack by registering a hitting percentage of 33%, which they also did against Wyoming at the Rumble in the Rockies. They hit at least 0.265 in all three sets, including a red-hot 0.435 in the opening set. SMC only recorded 10 attack errors all evening, and not a single player had more errors thank kills. It was Chandler Cowell pacing the attack for the Gaels, with 11 kills and zero attack errors. For Cowell, it was her fourth-straight match of exactly 11 kills. Kristen Erland followed up her career-best performance from Wednesday night with eight kills, adding two blocks.

KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON
This time around, after Saint Mary's came out of the gates hot, they did not let off the gas pedal. While the second set did get dicey, with Davis tying the score at 21-21. Saint Mary's was able to get the next three points, led by Elena Baka and one of her kills and a service ace to follow, and the Gaels were able to lock up a 25-22 win. The third set was a bit easier than set two, with the Aggies never getting closer than a tie score after 10-10. The Gaels doubled up on UC Davis with an extended stretch of 12-6 volleyball, where they found themselves up 22-16. This helped the Gaels wrap up the win in three sets, their first sweep since the Rumble in the Rockies in August.

THEY DID IT ALL
There weren't many areas where the Gaels struggled on Friday night, with great nights at the net, on defense, and at the service line. Eight aces were recorded from three players (Baka 3, Jennifer "Boo" Laird 3, Cowell 2). Six different Gaels had at least two digs, while no one had more than the eight put up by setter Alosina Thompson. Saint Mary's also stuffed the Aggies 10 times, with six different Gaels recording at least two block assists, led by Laird and Trinity Durfee with five apiece.

THOMPSON TALKS
"In our previous practices this week, we've been talking about how focus is just as important as skill and executing during the game, and without focus during non-contact plays, we can't do anything about which way points go. We definitely had a better focus tonight and it showed on the court." – Alosina Thompson, when asked about the Gaels finishing off a strong start

KRISTEN QUIPS
"The support of my team has been the best thing I can ask for when coming onto the floor as a starter. I feel no judgement or fear from anyone around and I couldn't be happier to be contributing to great team wins like tonight." – Kristen Erland, when asked about the groove she is in during her recent starts

UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will turn their focus to West Coast Conference play, as the Gaels hit the road for a pair of ranked teams to begin conference action. First up, the Gaels will take on #21 San Diego at their place on Thursday at 7:00 pm and then head to Provo, Utah for a date with #15 BYU on Saturday at noon. Saint Mary's begins WCC play with four of their first five matches on the road.

#GaelsRise — Single game tickets are on sale through the month of September! To select your game and your tickets, click HERE!