CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Saint Mary's Gaels (5-12, 1-7 WCC) kept things close against the Oregon State Beaver (6-12, 4-4 WCC) in Corvallis, keeping each of the first three sets within five points, and staving off match point in set three, but eventually fell in four. The Gaels will now return home for their longest homestand of the season, hoping to right the ship now nearly at the halfway point of conference play.
The Gaels jumped out on the front foot in their first visit to Corvallis in 20 years, working to an early 11-9 lead. The two teams traded side outs back and forth all the way to a 20-18 lead for Saint Mary's, before the Beavers were able to regain momentum and close out the set on a 5-1 run. Genevieve Bane led the Gaels with three kills and three digs in the set that featured 16 ties and four lead changes.
A Kaliko Kealoha kill and a Hailee Garcia ace helped the Gaels build an early 3-0 lead for the Gaels, which was quickly erased by a 5-0 Oregon State run. Clarissa Klein would provide a kill and a block on the next two points to knot things up at five before the Beavers would regain the lead and never look back, ultimately taking the set 25-20 for a commanding 2-0 lead. Bane added five more kills for the Gaels in the second frame.
Saint Mary's found themselves with their backs against the wall, down 18-12 in a potentially decisive third set. A 4-0 run sparked by a pair of Madi Zorn aces would get the Gaels back into things, before back to back kills from Hannah Taylor and Genevieve Bane would give the Gaels a 22-21 lead. Oregon State would battle their way back to match point at 24-23, but the Gaels would notch the final three points of the set, punctuated by a Katherine Gee, ace to force a fourth. Clarissa Klein put the team on her back in the third set with six kills, while Tessa Schouten, Kaliko Kealoha and Hannah Taylor each got their hands on three blocks as part of a six block set for Saint Mary's.
The Gaels kept momentum rolling in the fourth set, taking an early 7-6 lead. The Beavers would pull ahead at 8-7, and while the Gaels would tie things up four more times, an Oregon State 4-0 run would give them the separation they needed to close out the match. Hannah Taylor tallied three kills in the final set, while Clarissa Klein went four three blocks.
Three different Gaels, Genevieve Bane, Clarissa Klein and Hannah Taylor each totalled 12 kills. Hailee Garcia tallied 20 assists, while Madi Zorn had 16 and a team-high three service aces. Kalikoe Kealoha tied her career-high with seven blocks, while Clarissa Klein and Tessa Schouten each added five. Natalie Peete went for 13 digs, while Abby Castillon and Genevieve Bane each came up with 10. Saint Mary's tied their season high with 13 blocks in the match.
WINNING THE DEFENSIVE GAME
The Saint Mary's Gaels out-blocked and out-dug Oregon State in tonight's match. The Gaels were +1 in the blocking category, at 13-12. Kaliko Kealoha tied her career-high with seven total blocks, as did Tessa Schouten with five.On the back row, the Gaels were +3 in digs at 51-48. Natalie Peete led the way with 13 digs, making it her fourth double-digit dig match in her past five, while Abby Castillon and Genevieve Bane each had 10, for their tenth and fifth 10+ dig matches respectively. This was just the fifth time this season that the Gaels have out-blocked an opponent and just the sixth time that they have out-dug an opponent.
ANOTHER BANE DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Genevieve Bane went for her fourth double-double, surpassing her tally of three from last season. Bane now ranks second on the team with her four double-doubles, behind only Hailee Garcia, who has recorded six assist-dig double-doubles on the year.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will host San Diego on Saturday, October 26. First serve is set for 1 PM. Before first serve, Mandy Bible will be honored as her #5 will be retired.
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