MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's Volleyball wrapped up their 2022 season on Tuesday night with a home contest against the Santa Clara Broncos. After going through a great stretch last week that included a pair of big wins over Gonzaga and Portland, the Gaels came close to replicating that magic again on Tuesday. Unfortunately, they lost their season finale in four sets, with finals of 22-25, 18-25, 25-16, and 12-25. Saint Mary's concludes the year with a record of 9-17, going 6-12 in West Coast Conference play.
 
BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS
After dropping the first two sets of the night, it seemed like Saint Mary's might go out quietly to end their year, but that would not be the case. They responded with a strong third set, sticking to the Broncos and winning by nine points. The Gaels never trailed during the third set, and continued to build on their lead all the way through. They also hit an impressive .522 during that set, with 14 kills on just 23 swings. Genevieve Bane had a pair of aces early in the set to set the tone, and once the Gaels got up 13-9, it never got closer than four points again. The big point in the set came at 16-12, when the Gaels rattled off three straight points to build enough breathing room to feel safe. Megan Chandler Allred had the first of those points on a kill, part of three kills she had in the set.
 
GOING OUT STRONG
Two of the most important attackers for the Gaels this season had strong performances in their final match of the year. Bane was one of the best on the floor for SMC on Tuesday night, tying for the team lead with 12 kills and just one error. She was matched by Hawley Harrer, who also racked up 12 kills in her final performance as a collegiate student-athlete. Both end their seasons on hot streaks. Bane concludes her first season with 12 or more kills in four of the final five matches, while Harrer ends her career with 53 kills over the last three matches, the most of any three-match stretch as a Gael.
 
COULD HAVE CHANGED THINGS
Had the Gaels won the opening set, the night might have been very different. Saint Mary's pulled even in the first set at 16-16 after falling into a 13-9 hole, thanks in part to Makenna Joyce putting up consecutive aces from the line. SCU then scored the next three points before SMC rallied for four of the next five to tie the score at 20-20, on a Kjersti Strong ace. It was still just a one-point lead for Santa Clara at 23-23 after a Bane kill, but the Broncos got the last two points, the first of which came on a Gaels service error.  
 
AMONG OTHER NUMBERS
The Gaels had a hitting percentage of .293 in their final match, part of an improved attack that was over .230 in five of the final six matches of the season…Joyce finishes the year as the team's leader in digs, adding 12 in the final match of the year…Ella Sandt led the way in assists again with 24 in the finale, setting a career-best on the season in assists…the Gaels allowed 14 aces to the Broncos, the most they allowed in a match this year.