PULLMAN, Wash. — Despite Washington State (14-8, 9-4 WCC) holding a four game lead on Saint Mary's (8-14, 4-9 WCC) coming into this one, the two squads looked like carbon copies of one another on Friday evening, with three of their four sets going beyond the 25 point winner threshold, but win the dust all settled, the Cougars narrowly outlasted the Gaels in four sets, their second tight victory in as many matchups this season.
It was a dream start for the Gaels, who, after playing to an eight all stalemate, extended their lead with three straight kills to 11-8. Saint Mary's would not relinquish the lead until Washington State went on a 3-0 run of their own late to force set point at 24-23. The Gaels would flip the script however, closing out the set with the final three points to take set one 26-24 to hush a raucous crowd in Pullman. Hannah Taylor and Genevieve Bane combined for 10 of the Gaels 17 kills in the set, while Madi Zorn had 10 assists. Saint Mary's hit at 0.359 in the opening frame, making the statement that they were ready to play tonight.
A Genevieve Bane kill gave Saint Mary's a 1-0 lead in set two, a lead they would hold for a majority of the set. Ahead 23-20 however, Washington State went on a 4-0 run to take their first lead of the set at 24-23. Bane and Hannah Taylor each would stave off set point opportunities for the Cougars with sideout kills, however, the third time was the charm for WSU, leveling the score at a set apiece with a 27-25 set two win. The Gaels continued to hit over 0.300 in set two, as Bane added six more kills, while Natalie Peete racked up seven set two digs.
The Gaels took a 2-0 lead to open set three, but the Cougars responded, taking their first lead at 4-3, and their final lead at 5-4, leading for the remainder of the set, earning a 25-19 victory to put the Gaels' backs against the wall. Genevieve Bane not only led the Gaels with four kills in set three, but also led the team with four digs for the frame.
The Cougars and Gaels played to a 13-13 scoreline to open the fourth set before WSU used a 5-0 run to extend their lead out to 17-13. The Gaels stayed focussed and chipped away at the deficit, knotting things up at 22 all on an Abby Castillon kill. Genevieve Bane's 22nd kill pushed the Gaels up 24-22, looking to force set five, however, Washington State took the final four points to win the set 26-24, and the match 3-1. Genevieve Bane was everything the Gaels needed in the final set with seven kills on 12 swings and no errors, but it just wasn't quite enough.
For the second time in as many weeks, Genevieve Bane set a new career-high, this time with 22 kills. Not only was Bane a high volume attacker, but was also efficient, going for a 0.429 hitting percentage, and was stout defensively with 11 digs and three blocks. Freshman middle blocker Tessa Schouten might have been the only player more efficient on the attack than Bane, going for six kills on just eight swings. Hailee Garcia and Madi Zorn were interchangeable at the setter position, a 6-2 rotation team's dream, each with 23 assists. Zorn also added three aces, tying her career-high, and accounting for half of the Gaels six team aces tonight. On top of Bane's 11 digs, Abby Castillon added 13, and Natalie Peete led the team with 15. Kaliko Kealoha once again led the team in blocking, with four.
WHAT CAN'T BANE DO?
Genevieve Bane has continued to prove herself, not just as the Gaels best hitter, but as one of the best hitters in the WCC. Bane has led the Gaels in kills in each of the last four matches, and, after setting a career-high with 19 kills last week, surpassed that again tonight, with 22 kills, becoming the first Gaels since 2022 to record 20 kills in a match. If that wasn't enough, Bane also tallied 11 digs for her fifth double-double of the season, and also finished second on the team with three blocks. Over her last four matches, Bane has totalled 73 kills, 35 digs and 12 blocks.
SERVING IT UP MADI'S WAY
Madi Zorn joined Genevieve Bane and Hailee Garcia as the third Gael to reach 20 service aces for the season, doing so with a career-high tying three tonight. Zorn accounted for half of the team's aces on the evening. Unlike Bane and Garcia, however, Zorn hit the 20 ace mark for the first time in her career tonight, with Bane having done so in each of the last two seasons, and Garcia doing so last year. A season ago, the Gaels had three players reach 30 aces. Saint Mary's will hope that the production behind the line from Zorn, Bane and Garcia will net them that this year as well.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will return home to face Pacific next Saturday, November 16. First serve is set for 1:00 PM.
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