Thursday, October 23
Moraga, CA
6:30 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
vs
Seattle
Madi Zorn (10) has led the Gaels in assists and digs over the three match win streak
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
VB | Gaels Look to Extend Win Streak with Pair of Home Contests
10/22/2025 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. — The Saint Mary's Gaels (5-13, 3-4 WCC) are riding high! Currently holding the second longest active winning streak in the WCC, the Gaels return home for a pair of clashes against Pacific Northwest foes Seattle U (6-12, 0-7 WCC) and Portland (9-9, 4-3 WCC) with the chance to move themselves into the top half of the conference standings with a pair of victories.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Seattle U Redhawks
Thursday, October 23 at 6:30 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Portland Pilots
Saturday, October 25 at 2 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
OVER THE LAST THREE CONTESTS…
The Gaels have looked like a completely different team from when the season started, as this youthful squad has grown together and seen their team chemistry and volleyball IQ increase as the season has gone on. Over their first 15 matches, Saint Mary's averaged 11.5 kills per set, 11.2 digs per set and 1.4 blocks per set, while hitting at 0.177 over that stretch, and allowing their opponents to hit at 0.264. As such, the Gaels won just two of their first 15 contests. As this team and coaching staff has grown together, however, the tides have shifted the way of the Gaels, and the proof is in the recent three match tear this team has been on. In their last three contests, all wins, including a pair of come from behind road victories, Saint Mary's has averaged 13.0 kills, 13.7 digs and 2.8 blocks per set, while hitting at 0.239 and holding opponents to a 0.155 hitting clip. Mya Allen has done a majority of the heavy lifting offensively, with a team high 55 kills over the past three matches, hitting at 0.246. At the net, both Tessa Schouten and Genevieve Bane are averaging over 1.2 blocks per set, with Bane recording a career-high seven against Santa Clara and Schouten going for a career-high 11 against Gonzaga. While the hitting and blocking have been stellar, one of the additional major emergences in this recent hot streak has been that of setter Madi Zorn. Zorn has led the Gaels in assists and digs, appearing in every set for Saint Mary's last three contests, recording a career-high 15 digs against Gonzaga. Zorn only appeared in 22 of the first 58 sets on the year.
COACHES CORNER
ABOUT THE REDHAWKS
WCC newcomer Seattle U has found it tough sledding in their debut season in the conference, having lost each of their first seven conference matches as part of a 10 match winless streak. The Redhawks opened their campaign at 6-5 in non-conference play, and now look to re-find their footing under the second year direction of Head Coach Dan Behnke. Statistically speaking, the best facets of Seattle's game is there blocking and their serving, also the two primary statistical categories that they lead the Gaels in this season (aces and blocks/set). The blocking numbers shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as Coach Behnke retained both of his starting middle blockers, Yasemin Elmas and Marley Hardgrave, however, the serving effort has been lead by a pair of true freshmen, as Petra Fritz and Katelynn Albano have combined for 51 of the Redhawks 113 aces this year. As new conference foes, this meeting will be just the fourth all-time clash between these two programs, with the Gaels winning all three of the previous meetings.
ABOUT THE PILOTS
The Gaels will see the Pilots for a second time this year, after falling in five up at the Chiles Center on the opening weekend of WCC play. Since their win over Saint Mary's, Portland has gone just 2-3 over their next five, and will take on Pacific in Stockton on Thursday, before trekking west to Moraga to see the Gaels on Saturday. Head Coach Megan Burton will return to her old stomping grounds, as the 2010 graduate of Saint Mary's will look to best her alma mater inside UCU Pavilion for the first time in her tenure as the Portland Head Coach. Currently sitting at 9-9, the Pilots are two wins away from their best start through 20 games under Coach Burton's tutelage, but have a pair of tests on the road against the Tigers and Gaels to reach that mark. Maybe the most impressive achievement for Coach Burton in what looks to be her best season yet at Portland, she retained all seven of her starters from 2024 to 2025, thus leading to continued growth and success for her program. Earlier this season when these two sides did battle, it was Portland's block that told the story, as middle blocker Taina Kaauwai and outside hitter Lucia Busso each tallied seven block assists en route to a season best 12 roofs against the Gaels. Saint Mary's led in just about every other statistical category in that match, but the Pilots were able to narrowly outlast the Gaels in a 15-10 decisive fifth set. In 77 all-time meetings, that win was just Portland's 28th win over the Gaels, with 17 of those occurring inside the Chiles Center. Inside UCU Pavilion, the Gaels lead the all-time series 28-11.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME VOLLEYBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.
#GaelsRise
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Seattle U Redhawks
Thursday, October 23 at 6:30 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Portland Pilots
Saturday, October 25 at 2 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
OVER THE LAST THREE CONTESTS…
The Gaels have looked like a completely different team from when the season started, as this youthful squad has grown together and seen their team chemistry and volleyball IQ increase as the season has gone on. Over their first 15 matches, Saint Mary's averaged 11.5 kills per set, 11.2 digs per set and 1.4 blocks per set, while hitting at 0.177 over that stretch, and allowing their opponents to hit at 0.264. As such, the Gaels won just two of their first 15 contests. As this team and coaching staff has grown together, however, the tides have shifted the way of the Gaels, and the proof is in the recent three match tear this team has been on. In their last three contests, all wins, including a pair of come from behind road victories, Saint Mary's has averaged 13.0 kills, 13.7 digs and 2.8 blocks per set, while hitting at 0.239 and holding opponents to a 0.155 hitting clip. Mya Allen has done a majority of the heavy lifting offensively, with a team high 55 kills over the past three matches, hitting at 0.246. At the net, both Tessa Schouten and Genevieve Bane are averaging over 1.2 blocks per set, with Bane recording a career-high seven against Santa Clara and Schouten going for a career-high 11 against Gonzaga. While the hitting and blocking have been stellar, one of the additional major emergences in this recent hot streak has been that of setter Madi Zorn. Zorn has led the Gaels in assists and digs, appearing in every set for Saint Mary's last three contests, recording a career-high 15 digs against Gonzaga. Zorn only appeared in 22 of the first 58 sets on the year.
COACHES CORNER
ABOUT THE REDHAWKS
WCC newcomer Seattle U has found it tough sledding in their debut season in the conference, having lost each of their first seven conference matches as part of a 10 match winless streak. The Redhawks opened their campaign at 6-5 in non-conference play, and now look to re-find their footing under the second year direction of Head Coach Dan Behnke. Statistically speaking, the best facets of Seattle's game is there blocking and their serving, also the two primary statistical categories that they lead the Gaels in this season (aces and blocks/set). The blocking numbers shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as Coach Behnke retained both of his starting middle blockers, Yasemin Elmas and Marley Hardgrave, however, the serving effort has been lead by a pair of true freshmen, as Petra Fritz and Katelynn Albano have combined for 51 of the Redhawks 113 aces this year. As new conference foes, this meeting will be just the fourth all-time clash between these two programs, with the Gaels winning all three of the previous meetings.
ABOUT THE PILOTS
The Gaels will see the Pilots for a second time this year, after falling in five up at the Chiles Center on the opening weekend of WCC play. Since their win over Saint Mary's, Portland has gone just 2-3 over their next five, and will take on Pacific in Stockton on Thursday, before trekking west to Moraga to see the Gaels on Saturday. Head Coach Megan Burton will return to her old stomping grounds, as the 2010 graduate of Saint Mary's will look to best her alma mater inside UCU Pavilion for the first time in her tenure as the Portland Head Coach. Currently sitting at 9-9, the Pilots are two wins away from their best start through 20 games under Coach Burton's tutelage, but have a pair of tests on the road against the Tigers and Gaels to reach that mark. Maybe the most impressive achievement for Coach Burton in what looks to be her best season yet at Portland, she retained all seven of her starters from 2024 to 2025, thus leading to continued growth and success for her program. Earlier this season when these two sides did battle, it was Portland's block that told the story, as middle blocker Taina Kaauwai and outside hitter Lucia Busso each tallied seven block assists en route to a season best 12 roofs against the Gaels. Saint Mary's led in just about every other statistical category in that match, but the Pilots were able to narrowly outlast the Gaels in a 15-10 decisive fifth set. In 77 all-time meetings, that win was just Portland's 28th win over the Gaels, with 17 of those occurring inside the Chiles Center. Inside UCU Pavilion, the Gaels lead the all-time series 28-11.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME VOLLEYBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballVB | Tyler Hildebrand Presser, 10-21-25
Tuesday, October 21
VB | Highlights at Gonzaga, 10-18-25
Saturday, October 18
VB | Tyler Hildebrand Presser, 10-13-25
Monday, October 13
VB | Highlights vs. Santa Clara, 10-11-25
Saturday, October 11
