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SMC California Athletics

Saint Mary's College Athletics Gaels
Clarissa Klein Swing vs AF
Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
Clarissa Klein: 7 Kills (Team-High)
0
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC 4-5,0-0 WCC
3
Winner San Jose St. SJSU 8-0,0-0 Mountain West
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC
4-5,0-0 WCC
0
Final
3
San Jose St. SJSU
8-0,0-0 Mountain West
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC 20 16 21 (0)
San Jose St. SJSU 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

VB | Gaels Drop Non-Conference Finale to San Jose State

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The non-conference finale did not go the way of the Gaels (4-5), falling in straight sets to the undefeated San Jose State Spartans (8-0). The Gaels entered the match on a four game winning streak of their own, but struggled to slow down a very potent San Jose State attack. The Gaels will now shift their focus to WCC play, kicking off next week. 

The Gaels continued their efficient play this week in the first set against the Spartans, hitting at 0.256, but the Spartans responded with a 0.432 clip of their own, taking the set 25-20. Clarissa Klein (4 Kills), Genevieve Bane (3 Kills) and Tessa Schouten (2 Kills) all went errorless in the first frame, swinging at a combined 0.600 clip, however, the three of the Spartans top five attackers also picked up errorless sets in the first frame. 

Defense was the name of the game in the second set, with the Gaels slowing down the Spartan attack with better back row play, but the Spartans block stepping up against SMC with six roofs, taking the set 25-16 and going ahead 2-0 for the match. Abby Castillon jumped up to 10 digs through the first two sets, demonstrating her defensive prowess on top of her already well known attacking ability.





The Saint Mary's block awoke in the third set with four rejections after recording just one through the first two sets, but it just wasn't enough to slow down the onslaught attack by the Spartans.



 

Clarissa Klein and Abby Castillon each tallied a team best seven kills, with Castillon adding a team-high 12 digs. Madi Zorn narrowly edged out Hailee Garcia for the assist lead, 11-10, but Garcia held a 7-2 dig lead over her fellow setting teammate. The Gaels totalled just two service aces, one each from Genevieve Bane and Natalie Peete, and tallied five total blocks, with Hannah Taylor getting her hands on four of them. 

DEFENSE ON CASTILLON'S MIND
After being a driving force offensively over the first two matches this week, Abby Castillon was the focal point of the defense tonight, wracking up 12 digs, along with a team-high seven kills. Castillon is no stranger to stellar defense, tallying double digit digs in five of the first nine contests this season. Castillon ranks third on the team and is tops amongst outside hitters for the Gaels, currently with 88 digs.

A FIRST FOR KEALOHA
For the first time in her young career, middle blocker Kaliko Kealoha had an errorless performance both on the attack and at the service line. The Gaels have seen steady improvements for both of their true freshman middle blockers, Kealoha and Tessa Schouten, who were left with some big shoes to fill after the departure of both of their starting all-conference middle blockers from a season ago. 

NON-CONFERENCE IN REVIEW
The Gaels opened up non-conference play dropping their first four, but continued to grow as a team together, finishing out non-con winning four of their final five. The Gaels attack consisted of a steady diet of both Hannah Taylor and Genevieve Bane, each with 101 kills. Bane has also led the Gaels with 16 service aces. Katherine Gee wracked up an incredible 134 digs, while Tessa Schouten and Kaliko Kealoha each have accounted for 25 total blocks. Most importantly, the Gaels grew together as a team, showing steady improvement, and look ready to make a run in WCC play. 

UP NEXT
The Gaels head to Portland for their conference opener, Thursday evening with a first serve time of 6 PM.

DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME VOLLEYBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE ON SALE HERE.

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