Thursday, October 23
Moraga, CA
6:30 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
6-13,4-4WCC
3
vs
2
Seattle
6-13,0-8WCC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Seattle U
26
27
25
23
7
2
Saint Mary's (CA)
24
25
27
25
15
3
Ivona Lazovic: 35 Assists, 11 Digs, 4th Collegiate Double-Double
Photo by: Pacific Athletics
VB | Gaels Pull Off Reverse Sweep Against Seattle U for Fourth Straight Victory
10/23/2025 11:39:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. — While aggregate scores over sets mean very little in the sport of volleyball, the aggregate score of tonight's contest through four sets between the visiting Seattle U Redhawks (6-13, 0-8 WCC) and the host Saint Mary's Gaels (6-13, 4-4 WCC) truly tells a story. Heading into a decisive fifth, both the Redhawks and Gaels had scored exactly 101 points in a contest that could be described as too close to call. Seattle U needed extra points to take sets one and two at 26-24 and 27-25, but the Gaels flipped the script in sets three and four, winning 27-25 and 25-23. It all came down to a decisive fifth set, and the Gaels took care of business, downing the Redhawks for the fourth time in four all-time meetings, and notching their fourth consecutive win, to move to 0.500 in conference play.
Genevieve Bane and Tessa Schouten got the Gaels off to the races early in set one, with a kill and a block each, as Saint Mary's built an early 4-0 lead. While a four point cushion felt comfortable for the moment, the Redhawks came storming back to knot things up at 10 apiece before taking their first lead at 11-10. Seattle U kept the Gaels at bay throughout the rest of the set. An Alayna Pearson ace would give Saint Mary's the lead at 18-17, but three straight from the Redhawks would give them the separation they needed to ultimately take the set 26-24. Set one was the Genevieve Bane and Mya Allen show for the Gaels, as the dynamic duo combined for 11 kills on 19 swings without an error. Ivona Lazovic assisted on seven of those kills, while Bane, along with Tessa Schouten each recorded a pair of blocks in the frame.
Seattle U put up more of a fight to start set two, but again, it was the Gaels who were able to give themselves early separation, this time taking a five point lead at 13-8. That lead was extended out to 21-15 in favor of the Gaels, but with their backs against the wall, the Redhawks responded in a big way, closing out set two on a 12-4 run to take a commanding two set to none lead. Unlike set one, the Gaels shared the wealth on the attack in set two, with Mya Allen, Gracie Vohs, Genevieve Bane and Abby Castillon all recording three kills in the set. Again, Schouten and Bane chipped in a pair of blocks, but it wasn't enough to slow down the Redhawks attack, who hit 0.275 through the first two frames.
Set three followed the same pattern as the first two, as Saint Mary's jumped out to an early lead, this time at 8-3, and extended it out to 17-8, but Seattle U once again weathered the storm to the tune of a 16-7 run to knot things up at 24 all, and even took the Gaels to match point at 25-24. Three straight points from the Gaels would quickly erase the hope for a sweep victory for the Redhawks, as the Gaels were able to force a fourth. Genevieve Bane tallied four kills to lead the Gaels in the third, Ivona Lazovic added nine assists and five digs, and Anaya Thrower connected on a pair of swings for kills and chipped in a pair of blocks.
Through the first 24 points of set four, neither side could build a lead larger than two points. That was until the Redhawks took a 14-11 lead and kept the Gaels at arms distance, once again looking poised to polish off the victory. Down 20-17, however, the Gaels began to mount their comeback effort. A Mya Allen kill and a Tessa Schouten ace brought Saint Mary's back within one, and while Seattle U was able to side out from there, the Gaels would rattle off four more points, three on Allen kills to take a 23-21 lead. The Redhawks would level things off at 23 all, but a service error followed by a service ace from Mya Allen would send the match into a decisive fifth. Seven kills and two aces from Allen told the story for the Gaels in the fourth.
The Gaels jumped out to a commanding 8-2 lead to open set five, and while the Redhawks got back within three, the Saint Mary's attack overwhelmed Seattle U in the final frame to the tune of eight kills on 11 swings and just one error, finishing off the set and match with a 15-7 victory. Mya Allen had half of those eight kills on four swings capping another brilliant night for the freshman.
Mya Allen continued on her recent hot streak with 22 total kills tonight to go along with a career-high four aces. The freshman out of San Antonio has tallied 77 kills over her last four matches, as well as nine aces, as she has taken the lead on the team in kills per set, now averaging 3.35. Genevieve Bane joined Allen in double figures for kills with 17 to go along with a team-high five blocks. Ivona Lazovic logged her fourth collegiate double-double with 35 assists and 11 digs, while fellow setter Madi Zorn added 23 assists. Alayna Pearson led the defensive effort from the back row with 13 digs, while at the net, the Gaels kept their double digit block streak alive with 13, including five each from Bane and Tessa Schouten.
AN OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT
The Gaels tallied a season-high 71 kills tonight, their most kills in a match since 2022, when they went for 79 playing host to Gonzaga. Mya Allen led the way with 22, while Genevieve Bane totalled 17. In total nine of the 11 Gaels who saw the floor tonight recorded at least one kill. Both setters Ivona Lazovic and Madi Zorn were brilliant as distributors for the attack, with Lazovic going for 35 assists, and Zorn adding 23. While the Gaels defense has been the focal point during this recent hot streak, the offense continues to show massive strides as well.
THE BLOCK STREAK CONTINUES
Prior to the start of the Gaels current four match winning streak, Saint Mary's had not record double digit blocks in a single match this year.They now have done so in four straight matches. Tonight's 13 blocks were the second highest tally of the year. Genevieve Bane, who has been very involved in the blocking effort since moving from outside hitter to opposite, had her third straight 5+ block performance, with five tonight. She is now averaging 0.5 blocks per set, a career-best mark. Tessa Schouten also had five tonight, after coming off of her career-high 11 at Gonzaga last weekend.
COACHES CORNER
UP NEXT
The Gaels will remain at home for a Saturday afternoon tilt against Portland. First serve is set for 2 PM inside UCU Pavilion on October 25.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME VOLLEYBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Genevieve Bane and Tessa Schouten got the Gaels off to the races early in set one, with a kill and a block each, as Saint Mary's built an early 4-0 lead. While a four point cushion felt comfortable for the moment, the Redhawks came storming back to knot things up at 10 apiece before taking their first lead at 11-10. Seattle U kept the Gaels at bay throughout the rest of the set. An Alayna Pearson ace would give Saint Mary's the lead at 18-17, but three straight from the Redhawks would give them the separation they needed to ultimately take the set 26-24. Set one was the Genevieve Bane and Mya Allen show for the Gaels, as the dynamic duo combined for 11 kills on 19 swings without an error. Ivona Lazovic assisted on seven of those kills, while Bane, along with Tessa Schouten each recorded a pair of blocks in the frame.
S1 | SMC 11 - SEA 12
— Saint Mary's Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) October 24, 2025
Genevieve Bane records a kill as the Gaels and Redhawks continue to trade points in Set 1! 💪#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/fEteOGoZN1
Seattle U put up more of a fight to start set two, but again, it was the Gaels who were able to give themselves early separation, this time taking a five point lead at 13-8. That lead was extended out to 21-15 in favor of the Gaels, but with their backs against the wall, the Redhawks responded in a big way, closing out set two on a 12-4 run to take a commanding two set to none lead. Unlike set one, the Gaels shared the wealth on the attack in set two, with Mya Allen, Gracie Vohs, Genevieve Bane and Abby Castillon all recording three kills in the set. Again, Schouten and Bane chipped in a pair of blocks, but it wasn't enough to slow down the Redhawks attack, who hit 0.275 through the first two frames.
S2 | SMC 8 - SEA 6
— Saint Mary's Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) October 24, 2025
MARATHON RALLY goes the way of the Gaels ‼️🤩@NCAAVolleyball @WCCsports #GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/OgoYIsc8z1
S2 | SMC 13 - SEA 8
— Saint Mary's Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) October 24, 2025
Saint Mary's blocks another one and forces Seattle U to take a timeout 🔥#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/9KCcHNeGIE
Set three followed the same pattern as the first two, as Saint Mary's jumped out to an early lead, this time at 8-3, and extended it out to 17-8, but Seattle U once again weathered the storm to the tune of a 16-7 run to knot things up at 24 all, and even took the Gaels to match point at 25-24. Three straight points from the Gaels would quickly erase the hope for a sweep victory for the Redhawks, as the Gaels were able to force a fourth. Genevieve Bane tallied four kills to lead the Gaels in the third, Ivona Lazovic added nine assists and five digs, and Anaya Thrower connected on a pair of swings for kills and chipped in a pair of blocks.
S3 | SMC 23 - SEA 20
— Saint Mary's Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) October 24, 2025
An emphatic kill from Genevieve Bane gets the Gaels within two points of the set-win!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/YAvNdMZy4e
Through the first 24 points of set four, neither side could build a lead larger than two points. That was until the Redhawks took a 14-11 lead and kept the Gaels at arms distance, once again looking poised to polish off the victory. Down 20-17, however, the Gaels began to mount their comeback effort. A Mya Allen kill and a Tessa Schouten ace brought Saint Mary's back within one, and while Seattle U was able to side out from there, the Gaels would rattle off four more points, three on Allen kills to take a 23-21 lead. The Redhawks would level things off at 23 all, but a service error followed by a service ace from Mya Allen would send the match into a decisive fifth. Seven kills and two aces from Allen told the story for the Gaels in the fourth.
S4 | SMC 18 - SEA 20
— Saint Mary's Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) October 24, 2025
Mya Allen doing Mya Allen things 😮💨🔥#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/Qf2nYzEv9B
E4 | SMC 25 - SEA 23
— Saint Mary's Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) October 24, 2025
TO SET FIVE WE GO 🗣️🔥
Check out this late-set kill from Mya Allen, who now leads the team with 18 on the night!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/xqGFYlhPF9
The Gaels jumped out to a commanding 8-2 lead to open set five, and while the Redhawks got back within three, the Saint Mary's attack overwhelmed Seattle U in the final frame to the tune of eight kills on 11 swings and just one error, finishing off the set and match with a 15-7 victory. Mya Allen had half of those eight kills on four swings capping another brilliant night for the freshman.
S5 | SMC 5 - SEA 1
— Saint Mary's Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) October 24, 2025
WHAT A SAVE by Miley Thunstrom, followed by a kill from Mya Allen 💪#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/JaQyR7gwjB
Mya Allen continued on her recent hot streak with 22 total kills tonight to go along with a career-high four aces. The freshman out of San Antonio has tallied 77 kills over her last four matches, as well as nine aces, as she has taken the lead on the team in kills per set, now averaging 3.35. Genevieve Bane joined Allen in double figures for kills with 17 to go along with a team-high five blocks. Ivona Lazovic logged her fourth collegiate double-double with 35 assists and 11 digs, while fellow setter Madi Zorn added 23 assists. Alayna Pearson led the defensive effort from the back row with 13 digs, while at the net, the Gaels kept their double digit block streak alive with 13, including five each from Bane and Tessa Schouten.
AN OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT
The Gaels tallied a season-high 71 kills tonight, their most kills in a match since 2022, when they went for 79 playing host to Gonzaga. Mya Allen led the way with 22, while Genevieve Bane totalled 17. In total nine of the 11 Gaels who saw the floor tonight recorded at least one kill. Both setters Ivona Lazovic and Madi Zorn were brilliant as distributors for the attack, with Lazovic going for 35 assists, and Zorn adding 23. While the Gaels defense has been the focal point during this recent hot streak, the offense continues to show massive strides as well.
THE BLOCK STREAK CONTINUES
Prior to the start of the Gaels current four match winning streak, Saint Mary's had not record double digit blocks in a single match this year.They now have done so in four straight matches. Tonight's 13 blocks were the second highest tally of the year. Genevieve Bane, who has been very involved in the blocking effort since moving from outside hitter to opposite, had her third straight 5+ block performance, with five tonight. She is now averaging 0.5 blocks per set, a career-best mark. Tessa Schouten also had five tonight, after coming off of her career-high 11 at Gonzaga last weekend.
COACHES CORNER
UP NEXT
The Gaels will remain at home for a Saturday afternoon tilt against Portland. First serve is set for 2 PM inside UCU Pavilion on October 25.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME VOLLEYBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Team Stats
SU
SMC
Kills
61
71
Errors
27
26
Attempts
153
164
Hitting %
.222
.274
Points
77.0
93.0
Assists
55
69
Aces
6
9
Blocks
10
13
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's VolleyballL/DS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballVB | Highlights vs. Seattle U, 10-23-25
Friday, October 24
VB | Tyler Hildebrand Presser Post Seattle U
Thursday, October 23
VB | Tyler Hildebrand Presser, 10-21-25
Tuesday, October 21
VB | Highlights at Gonzaga, 10-18-25
Saturday, October 18
