MORAGA, Calif. — The Saint Mary's Gaels (5-13, 1-8 WCC) will host their WCC Bay Area rivals, the San Francisco Dons (12-8, 5-3 WCC) and the Santa Clara Broncos (7-11, 3-6 WCC). The Gaels swept the Dons and Broncos at home last season, and will hope to do the same this year, as they look to get their season back on track.

THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. San Francisco Dons
Thursday, October 31 at 7 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif. 
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Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Santa Clara Broncos
Saturday, November 2 at 1 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif. 
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A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY
Genevieve Bane reached the 200 kill mark for the third consecutive season. Bane is on pace for 302 kills this season. She is also on pace to break her own single season highs in aces and digs, and has already broken her single season high for assists this year. Bane is currently the active leader for the Gaels in kills (691), aces (89), and digs 459. 

ABOUT THE DONS
Saint Mary's squared off with the San Francisco Dons four weeks ago, with the Dons picking up their first sweep of the Gaels since the COVID Spring 2021 season. Since that point, however, San Francisco has gone just 3-3, with the Gaels looking to get back on track and return the favor in front of their home fans in Moraga. The Dons have lost three of their last four, dropping five setters to Oregon State, Pacific and Pepperdine, but fourth year Head Coach Diogo Silva still looks like he's on pace to reach at least 15 wins, which would surpass his previous best set in the 2022 season. The Dons have hung their hats on outstanding offense, leading the WCC in kills per set and hitting percentage as a team. That was on display in their previous matchup with the Gaels, as they tallied 52 kills and hit at 0.357 back on October 3 at the Sobrato Center. While outside hitters Maria Petkova and Michalina Rola combined for 23 kills in that match as the only two players on either side with double digit kills, it was middle blocker Delaney Ewing and opposite Astrid Puig who truly shined, with Ewing going for 9 kills on 16 swings and no errors (0.563) and Puig going for 8 kills on 13 swings and just one error (0.538). Saint Mary's is 29-10 all-time when hosting USF and 49-29 against the Dons historically in this matchup.

ABOUT THE BRONCOS
Santa Clara comes into the week with a record of 7-11, but have won two of their last three to run their WCC record to 3-6. Sixth year Head Coach Erin Lindsey logged a 21 win season in her first year at SCU, but since, has not surpassed 13. With nine matches left, she will not be able to match her high in wins at Santa Clara, but could still surpass that 13 win tally for her second best season at the helm of the Broncos. While the Broncos retained four members of last year's starting lineup into this season, it's been two relatively new faces that have stood out for them this year. Alayna Crabtree transferred in from Boston College and leads the Broncos is kills and digs, while sophomore Grace Flanagan is getting her first major action this season, and leads SCU in blocks and aces. Santa Clara leads the all-time series 44-32, however, the Gaels have won six of the last eight meetings. 

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