MORAGA, Calif. — The 6-0 Gaels are back on the road this week, for three Bay Area based contests, as they will take on Cal in Berkeley on Wednesday evening before heading to Santa Clara for the Mission Classic, taking on Cal State Bakersfield on Friday night and the Air Force Academy on Saturday. Saint Mary's has not lost a tournament match since 2019.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels at Cal Bears
Wednesday, September 6 at 7:00 PM
Haas Pavilion – Berkeley, Calif.
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Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners
Friday, September 8 at 4:00 PM
Leavey Center – Santa Clara, Calif.
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Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Air Force Academy Falcons
Saturday, September 9 at 11:30 AM
Leavey Center – Santa Clara, Calif.
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THE TRAIN KEEPS ON ROLLIN'
The Gaels have run their season opening winning streak to six in a row. The 2023 squad has now tied Coach Browning's 2008 team for second best start in program history. Still sitting in front of them is the 2004 team, who began their season on an incredible 9-0 run en route to a 25-4 season. The six game winning streak is also the longest streak for the Gaels since 2018, when they won eight in a row between 8/30 and 9/20.
BACK TO BACK
Kjersti Strong once again caught the attention of the West Coast Conference, earning Defensive Player of the Week honors. Strong was coming off of winning Offensive Player of the Week honors last week, and now becomes the first ever Gael to win a WCC weekly award twice in one season, as well as the first ever Gael to win both offensive and defensive player of the week in the same season. Against Souther Utah, Strong had a career night, tying her career-highs in block solos (2), block assists (7) and total blocks (9). She followed that up with an eight block performance against Portland State. The Gaels totalled 32.5 blocks on the weekend, the most over a two match stretch since 2019. Kjersti is now averaging an incredible six blocks per match, and is on pace for a 168 block season.
ABOUT THE BEARS
Like the Gaels, the Bears are off to a perfect start, currently sitting at 5-0 on the year. Cal took on Portland State and Southern Utah as well last weekend, downing them 3-1 and 3-0 respectively. The Bears are led by Interim Head Coach Crissy Jones Schoonderoerd, who came to Berkeley in the Spring. On the court, Cal has been led by freshman outside hitter Maggie Li. Hailing from Beijing, the 6-3 Li has averaged 13.4 kills (team-high), 2.2 aces (team-high) and 8.2 digs (3rd on team) per contest. All-time, the Bears are 22-3 against the Gaels, including winning their last four matchups.
ABOUT THE ROADRUNNERS
Another in-state foe, Cal State Bakersfield will head north to Santa Clara to face off with Gaels as part of the Mission Classic. After opening up the season on a 3-0 stretch, Bakersfield has dropped their last three contests, including a four set loss to common foe Utah Tech. Head Coach Giovana Melo is now in her tenth season at the helm in Bakersfield, and looks to rebound from a difficult 7-25 season a year ago. Freshman libero Grace Moss has been incredible to start her collegiate career , with a team-high 87 digs and 12 service aces. Bakersfield is 0-5 all-time against Saint Mary's.
ABOUT THE FALCONS
The Gaels will finish out another busy week of volleyball with a matchup against the Air Force Academy in Santa Clara on Saturday. The Falcons have won five of their first six to open up the year, falling only to UT Arlington in five sets. Keith Barnett is in his fifth season as the Falcons head coach, and looks to build off of his best season (15-15) in 2022. Senior middle blocker Joi Harvey has stood out for the Falcons so far this season, leading her squad in kills and blocks.
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