MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's Volleyball (2-4) is getting set for their busiest week of the season. After playing in three matches last week, the Gaels will do the same this week, this time in the span of three days. Saint Mary's will first host Air Force (1-7) and Seattle U (1-6) on Thursday and Friday evenings respectively, then hit the road to take on unbeaten San Jose State (6-0) on Saturday night. 

THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Air Force Falcons
Thursday, September 19 at 5 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
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Saint Mary's Gaels vs Seattle Redhawks 
Friday, September 20 at 6 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif. 
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Saint Mary's Gaels at San Jose State Spartans
Saturday, September 21 at 5 PM
Spartan Gym – San Jose, Calif. 
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CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM
After a difficult start through their first three matches, Saint Mary's Volleyball had a strong three game stretch last week that saw them go 2-1 and play much more consistent volleyball. Through the first three matches, the Gaels hit at just a 0.168 clip committing 69 attack errors and 26 service errors. My what a difference a week makes. Last week, the Gaels saw the attack error number dissipate to 55 and the service error number drop to 20. Blocking was also a key improvement for the Gaels, who recorded just 19 blocks in the first three matches, but ramped that up to 26 over the next three. Making the biggest leaps from the first three matches to the next were Genevieve Bane and Tessa Schouten. Bane hit over 0.300 in all three matches, something she hadn't done before in her career, and tallied 37 kills, 25 digs and six aces. Schouten hit at a whopping 0.433 clip and led the team with 12 total blocks. 

ABOUT THE FALCONS
Under the direction of first year Head Coach Macey Donathan, Air Force Volleyball is off to a slow start in 2024. The Falcons won their opener but have since dropped seven straight, winning just two sets in that time. This a starkly different start from a team that opened 8-1 last year en route to a 17-12 campaign. Following the 2023 campaign, Head Coach Keith Barnett moved on to work for League One Volleyball, and all-conference middle blocker Joi Harvey and setter Caroline Reinkensmeyer graduated from the academy. Fellow all-conference middle blocker Mac Russ has not played since 9/6 against UTEP. In this stead, the team has been led by outside hitter Ella Tsuchor (64 kills, 4 aces, 10 blocks) and libero Jordan Suan (106 digs, 7 aces). All-time, the Gaels lead the series 2-1, however, Air Force defeated SMC in four sets as part of the Santa Clara Mission Classic last year. The Gaels have never lost to the Falcons at home.   

ABOUT THE REDHAWKS 
Seattle opened up their season with a victory, but has since lost six straight heading into this matchup with the Gaels. Head Coach Dan Behnke took over for Michelle Cole this past Spring, after leading NCAA DII Saint Martin's University to a program record 17 wins last season. Despite the coaching change, the Redhawks retained a majority of last year's starters, including last year's kills leader Arianna Bilby, assist leader Elif Teksoy, ace leader Merima Samjlovic, dig leader Katlyn Snipes, and block leader Marley Hardgrave. Middle Blocker Yasemin Elmas also looks to have taken a positive step forward now in year three with the Seattle program, tallying 30 blocks in her first seven matches of the season. Saint Mary's is 2-0 all-time vs Seattle, winning both of their previous meetings inside UCU Pavilion via sweep in 2008 and 2011. 

ABOUT THE SPARTANS
San Jose State has matched their best start since 1990 with six consecutive wins to open up the year. In only his second season at the helm, Head Coach Todd Kress has already demonstrated why he was eight times named the MAAC Coach of the Year at his previous school, Fairfield. The team returns four of their starters from a year ago, including honorable mention all-conference setter Brooke Slusser. While Slusser, now a senior, has continued to impress, so too have outside hitter Nayeli Ti'a and middle blocker Emma Testi. Ti'a, a redshirt sophomore from Livermore, currently leads the Spartans with 89 kills and 68 digs, after leading the team in kills last season. Testi, a transfer from Daytona State Community College, leads the team with eight service aces and 33 blocks, and has done an excellent job filling the shoes of Jiana Lawson, who transferred to LMU. San Jose State leads the all-time series against SMC 17-10, including three straight victories in the last three seasons. 

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