MORAGA, Calif. — After spending nearly the first two weeks of October without a home match, Saint Mary's Volleyball returned to University Credit Union Pavilion for the first time since September 27. The 12^th-ranked BYU Cougars were in town, continuing a run of ranked opponents on tap for the Gaels. After taking one set from Pepperdine last week, the Gaels were unable to recreate any of that magic, dropping all three sets with finals of 25-18, 25-13, and 25-14. With the loss, Saint Mary's falls to 6-9 (3-4) on the year, while BYU improves to 14-3 (7-0).
 
COMING OUT SWINGING
With a ranked team in town, it sure was impressive to see Saint Mary's come out of the gates with a hot attack, pulling out to an early 12-6 lead. The Gaels scored five of the first six points, which led to a BYU timeout, and then upped the score to that 12-6 margin on a Megan Chandler Allred service ace, leading to another BYU timeout. After trading points to make it 14-9 Gaels, BYU unleashed a 7-0 run, extended to 13-2, which suddenly put the Cougars in front 22-16. After spending the early portion of the first set out-hitting BYU, the Cougars got efficient on their swings, and quickly pulled away from SMC. That lead would be the last time Saint Mary's led on the evening.
 
HANGING AROUND
Despite never leading again on the night, the Gaels hung around early in the third set and put a bit of a threat into the sweep for BYU. After falling behind 6-1, SMC used a 5-0 run to the set, with four kills coming from Hawley Harrer during that span. The score would remain tied at 8-8 until BYU uncorked another long run on the attack, scoring nine of the next 10 points and never letting Saint Mary's score consecutive points again in the set. It all led to a dominant performance with a 25-14 final, but despite the inability to finish late in the set, the Gaels were competitive early and that remains an encouraging sign moving forward.
 
THE FINAL NUMBERS
As it seems to be on most nights, Harrer was the leading attacker for the Gaels, posting 12 kills with just two errors, including an impressive eight kills in the third set…the Gaels block was decent on the night, led by Kjersti Strong and her six total blocks (one solo, five assists)…Ella Sandt posted a double-double with 16 assists and 12 digs…no other Gael attacker had more than four kills, and no other Gael attacker hit above .150 on the night…BYU was the better serving team on Thursday, with eight aces compared to just two for the Gaels.
 
UP NEXT
The third ranked team the Gaels will see in a row comes to town on Saturday afternoon, as No. 4 San Diego comes to University Credit Union Pavilion. First serve is scheduled for 1:00 pm, with the Gaels looking to end a four-match losing streak. The Toreros have won the last six meetings between the two programs, with the last win in Moraga for the Gaels coming in straight sets in 2018.