MORAGA, Calif. — It was another solid week for the Gaels, who notched home victories over Gonzaga and Portland to reach double-digit wins. The team has now won four straight contests, and seems to have found their footing as they get ready to face off with their conference foes for the second time around this season. 

This week, the Gaels will head to Stockton to take on Pacific, the final WCC team that they have not yet faced, before returning home to take on the San Francisco Dons, who they bested in four sets just two weeks ago. 

THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels at Pacific Tigers
Thursday, October 19 at 6:00 PM
Alex G. Spanos Center - Stockton, Calif. 
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Saint Mary's Gaels vs. San Francisco Dons
Saturday, October 21 at 1:00 PM
UCU Pavilion - Moraga, Calif. 
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TOO DARN STRONG
Kjersti Strong has been an unstoppable force at the net for the Gaels this season. The senior middle blocker has already tallied 116 total blocks, with nine matches remaining in the regular season. Prior to this season, no Saint Mary's Volleyball player had ever won WCC Player of the Week honors multiple times in a single season. Kjersti, however, has now won the award an unprecedented fourth time, taking home WCC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second consecutive week this past week. 

ROUNDING OUT ROUND ONE
The Gaels matchup with Pacific on Thursday will be their final matchup through the first time through WCC play. Coming into the match, the Gaels and Tigers are tied for fourth place in the conference at 4-3. Thursday night's matchup should be one of the more tightly contested conference matches for either of these sides, who matchup very evenly on paper. 

ABOUT THE TIGERS
Pacific enters the week with a 12-7 record, and is tied with Saint Mary's for fourth place in the WCC with a 4-3 record. Head Coach Greg Gibbons looks to guide the Tigers to their third consecutive postseason berth, as his squad has been to back-to-back NIVC tournaments. This season, the team is led by two terrific senior outside hitters; four-year Tiger Alexa Edwards (220 kills, 190 digs) and fifth year Michigan State transfer Biamba Kabengele (259 kills, 23 service aces). Both Kabengele and Edwards rank in the top-10 in the conference in kills per set, with Kabengele leading the conference in kills, kills per set, points and points per set. Pacific leads the all-time series with Saint Mary's 15-10.  

ABOUT THE DONS
The Dons are in the midst of a five match losing streak, currently sitting at 8-11 and 2-5, good for sixth in the WCC. Midway through his third season at the helm, Head Coach Diogo Silva will hope to turn things around the second time through conference, as he looks for his first winning season. Two weeks ago in San Francisco, the Gaels defeated the Dons in four sets. In that match, the Dons thrived behind the service line, with a season-high 11 service aces, including three each by Sara Denham and Hayden Goodman, but it wasn't enough to slow down a red-hot Gaels attack. The Gaels lead the all-time series over the Dons 48-28. 

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