STOCKTON, Calif. — The start to West Coast Conference play for Saint Mary's Volleyball had been perfect through three matches, with the Gaels running through the first three matches without a loss. That streak came to an end on Friday night in Stockton against the Pacific Tigers, who were able to get past the Gaels with finals of 25-18, 25-16, and 25-21 to hand SMC its first loss of WCC. The Gaels are now 6-6 (3-1) while Pacific improves to 10-6 (2-2).
 
LITTLE RUNS TELL THE STORY
Things weren't entirely uneven on Friday night had it not been for several little runs from Pacific that added up by the end of each set. In the opening set, Pacific went on five runs of three points or more, ultimately taking control of the first set and in turn, the match. In the second set, the Gaels actually held a 9-6 lead before they fell victim to a much longer run from the Tigers, spanning 10-consecutive points, with Pacific suddenly leading 16-9. There were only a few small runs for Pacific in the third set, but the Gaels never were able to string more than two points in a row, making it difficult to close the gap.
 
KEEP ON HITTING, HAWLEY
Despite the outcome, things have been going extremely well for Hawley Harrer. The fifth-year attacker for the Gaels is in the middle of her best collegiate season, and she was a shining star yet again on Friday night. She racked up 13 of the Gaels 25 kills on the night, and had just two attack errors for a .407 hitting percentage. She has far and away been the best attacker the Gaels have this season, averaging 3.99 kills per set and she has a .316 hitting percentage, a strong mark for an outside hitter. If the season ended tonight, she would have the sixth-most kills per set in a single season in SMC history.
 
AMONG OTHER NUMBERS
Aside from Harrer, no other Gael put up more than four kills in the match, the fewest among the second-leading attacker in a Gaels match this year…Ella Sandt assisted on 15 kills, was the second-leading digger with nine, and paced the Gaels with three aces…the .134 hitting percentage as a team for SMC is their lowest in any conference match this year…three Pacific Tigers reached double-digits in kills, including Biamba Kabengele who led all players with 16.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will try to get back in the win column next weekend when they head south for their annual SoCal swing against Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine. The Lions have been one of the better teams in the conference historically, but have struggled over the last few years. LMU and SMC meet up on Thursday night in Los Angeles, and then the Gaels take on 20^th-ranked Pepperdine at their place on Saturday afternoon.