

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
VB | Gaels Offer Sneak Peak of 2024 Squad for Fans with Exhibition Against Cal State East Bay
8/26/2024 3:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's Volleyball will not officially begin their season until Labor Day Weekend, however, they will offer a chance for fans to see the 2024 rendition of their squad on Tuesday evening, hosting NCAA Division II opponent Cal State East Bay at 7 PM inside UCU Pavilion. Admission will be free to the event, so come out and get to know this year's Gaels!
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Cal State East Bay Pioneers
Tuesday, August 27 at 7 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
Live Stats
MEET THE SQUAD
The Gaels return seven student-athletes from last season's 16-12 squad, while bringing in nine newcomers. Returning starters Genevieve Bane, Abby Castillon, Haile Garcia, Clarissa Klein, and Hannah Taylor should headline the group. Four of those five play either the outside hitter or opposite, so the Gaels are inundated with talent at that position, but will rely heavily on newcomers and/or last year's reserves for the libero, setter and middle blocker positions. Libero should be a good competition between redshirt freshman Natalie Peete and junior transfer Katherine Gee. Peete spent last season with the Gaels as a redshirt after an illustrious career at California High School in San Ramon. Gee transfers in from Feather River College, where she played one season alongside fellow Gael Hannah Taylor, and ranked second in the state in total digs last season for FRC. Hailee Garcia will likely get the nod as the Gaels number one setter this season, but if they do return to their 6-2 rotation, redshirt sophomore Madi Zorn and transfer Mia Paulson could be in the mix. Zorn saw limited time in her first season of action as a serving specialist last season. Paulson transfers in from Santa Monica College, where she was last season's Western State Conference South Division MVP. In the middle, Evelyn Hendrix, Kaliko Kealoha and Tessa Schouten could all see time. Hendrix hails from Rocklin, and tallied over 500 kills and 200 blocks at Whitney High School. Kealoha led Hilo High School to the Hawaii State Tournament. Schouten, like Hendrix, is from the Sacramento suburbs, hailing from Davis, and tallied over 300 digs and 150 blocks in two varsity seasons at Davis Senior High School. While the Gaels do have a hefty chunk of returning outsides, Anna Hanson and Gracie Vohs should excite at the position as well. Hanson is the defending Vine Valley League MVP fro Justin-Siena High School, while Vohs was named the 2022 OSAA 3A Player of the Year.
ABOUT THE PIONEERS
Cal State East Bay plays in the California Collegiate Athletic Association in the NCAA Division II. The Pioneers are coming off of a 13-12 season, including a 9-9 conference record that saw them finish just one game out of the final CCAA Tournament spot. Head Coach Kimberly Lambert begins her seventh season as the Pioneers Head Coach, and her 17th overall with East Bay. She will begin the quest for her third consecutive winning season and fifth overall. Second team All-CCAA middle blocker Mia Jordan should lead the team, after going for 232 kills and 79 blocks a season ago. Last year's kills leader Lexi Pagani also returns for her senior season with the Pioneers. CSUEB welcomes nine newcomers to their squad, including UC Riverside transfer Coco Ikpe.
#GaelsRise
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Cal State East Bay Pioneers
Tuesday, August 27 at 7 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
Live Stats
MEET THE SQUAD
The Gaels return seven student-athletes from last season's 16-12 squad, while bringing in nine newcomers. Returning starters Genevieve Bane, Abby Castillon, Haile Garcia, Clarissa Klein, and Hannah Taylor should headline the group. Four of those five play either the outside hitter or opposite, so the Gaels are inundated with talent at that position, but will rely heavily on newcomers and/or last year's reserves for the libero, setter and middle blocker positions. Libero should be a good competition between redshirt freshman Natalie Peete and junior transfer Katherine Gee. Peete spent last season with the Gaels as a redshirt after an illustrious career at California High School in San Ramon. Gee transfers in from Feather River College, where she played one season alongside fellow Gael Hannah Taylor, and ranked second in the state in total digs last season for FRC. Hailee Garcia will likely get the nod as the Gaels number one setter this season, but if they do return to their 6-2 rotation, redshirt sophomore Madi Zorn and transfer Mia Paulson could be in the mix. Zorn saw limited time in her first season of action as a serving specialist last season. Paulson transfers in from Santa Monica College, where she was last season's Western State Conference South Division MVP. In the middle, Evelyn Hendrix, Kaliko Kealoha and Tessa Schouten could all see time. Hendrix hails from Rocklin, and tallied over 500 kills and 200 blocks at Whitney High School. Kealoha led Hilo High School to the Hawaii State Tournament. Schouten, like Hendrix, is from the Sacramento suburbs, hailing from Davis, and tallied over 300 digs and 150 blocks in two varsity seasons at Davis Senior High School. While the Gaels do have a hefty chunk of returning outsides, Anna Hanson and Gracie Vohs should excite at the position as well. Hanson is the defending Vine Valley League MVP fro Justin-Siena High School, while Vohs was named the 2022 OSAA 3A Player of the Year.
ABOUT THE PIONEERS
Cal State East Bay plays in the California Collegiate Athletic Association in the NCAA Division II. The Pioneers are coming off of a 13-12 season, including a 9-9 conference record that saw them finish just one game out of the final CCAA Tournament spot. Head Coach Kimberly Lambert begins her seventh season as the Pioneers Head Coach, and her 17th overall with East Bay. She will begin the quest for her third consecutive winning season and fifth overall. Second team All-CCAA middle blocker Mia Jordan should lead the team, after going for 232 kills and 79 blocks a season ago. Last year's kills leader Lexi Pagani also returns for her senior season with the Pioneers. CSUEB welcomes nine newcomers to their squad, including UC Riverside transfer Coco Ikpe.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
VB | Tyler Hildebrand Presser, 10-13-25
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VB | Highlights vs. Santa Clara, 10-11-25
Saturday, October 11
VB | Tyler Hildebrand Presser Post Santa Clara, 10-11-25
Saturday, October 11
VB | Highlights at Pacific, 10-9-25
Thursday, October 09