Saturday, November 8
San Diego, CA
12:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
8-15,6-6WCC
2
at
3
San Diego
19-4,12-0WCC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Saint Mary's (CA)
25
20
25
25
5
2
San Diego
22
25
19
27
15
3
Abby Castillon: 12 Kills, 9 Digs
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
VB | Gaels Push Toreros to the Brink, Fall in Five Set Thriller
11/8/2025 4:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SAN DIEGO — Just like on Thursday evening, Saint Mary's (8-15, 6-6 WCC) went toe-to-toe with a program sitting atop the WCC standings, this time, in fact, taking the top team in the standings in San Diego (19-4, 12-0 WCC). The Toreros, who are looking to polish off a perfect conference season, nearly saw that dream whither away, as the Gaels forced five against USD, and even had a chance to close things out in four, but when the going got tough, the Toreros responded to win sets four and five to win their 14th straight WCC contest dating back to last year. Meanwhile, for the Gaels, it was another strong showing, as the youthful group that began the season has clearly gelled together and is looking more and more like a veteran squad everyday.
San Diego jumped out of the chutes hot taking a quick 2-0 lead in set one on a kill and a block. The Gaels, however, never let the Toreros establish a lead larger than two points, and took their own two point lead at 9-7 on back-to-back Tessa Schouten blocks. Neither team could separate from one another from that points, playing to a 21 all stalemate, but three straight points from the Gaels would push them ahead by largest lead at three points, and they would eventually salt away the set one victory by that three point margin, 25-22. The Gaels hit at 0.355 in the opening set, converting 31 swings into 13 kills and just two errors. Leading the charge was Abby Castillon who had five set one kills on nine swings without an error. Defensively, the Gaels shined with 15 digs and five blocks in the first set, with Tessa Schouten going for five rejections and Alayna Pearson for seven digs.
Set two started close as well, with San Diego taking a narrow 7-6 lead, but would go on a 4-0 run to extend it out to 11-6. The Gaels battled back to draw level at 13 apiece with an emphatic solo block from Abby Castillon, and tied it up three other times, but could never pull in front as the Toreros leveled the match at one apiece with a 25-20 set two win. Genevieve Bane had five of the Gaels 12 kills in set two, while the defense was once again spectacular, led by an 11 dig set two effort from Alayna Pearson.
Recharged from the prolonged set two - set three break, jumping out to a 4-1 lead to open the third frame. San Diego would chip away at the deficit and took their first lead at 10-9, but an 8-3 run from Saint Mary's would put them on the front foot for the remainder of the set, taking in 25-19 to go ahead two sets to one. Tessa Schouten and Abby Castillon each had three kills in the set, but again, the defense told the story for the Gaels, with 18 digs this set, six coming from Miley Thunstrom.
With their backs against the wall, the Toreros came out hot in set four, going ahead 7-3 over the first 10 points. The Gaels responded with a 7-2 run of their own to take their first lead at 10-9, but never got more than a one point lead against San Diego. Down 23-20 lat in the set, the Gaels rattled off three straight points, and five of six, finding themselves serving for the match at 25-24. The Toreros protected the winning streak for at least another set, siding out, following by two more points to take the tightest set of the match 27-25. Miley Thunstrom had her best set of the match with three kills, seven digs and two blocks.
After the Toreros took a 2-0 lead in set five, a Tessa Schouten kill would put the Gaels back within one, but San Diego would keep the pedal to the metal, while the Gaels seemed to run out of gas, as the Toreros indeed would preserve their win streak, taking the decisive fifth set 15-5.
For the second straight match, Genevieve Bane led the Gaels attack with 14 kills, while also recording five blocks. Abby Castilon joined Bane with double-digit kills, with 12 and nine digs. Ivona Lazovic had 26 assists and 10 digs for her third straight double-double, while Madi Zorn added 20 assists. Tessa Schouten and Miley Thunstrom each recorded a pair of aces, with the Gaels tallying seven in total. Defense stole the show for Saint Mary's for the second straight match, with Alayna Pearson tallying 24 digs and Miley Thunstrom totalling 16, and Tessa Schouten getting her hands on eight of the 12 Gael blocks. This was the third 70+ dig match for the Gaels this season, matching their tally from last season.
PUSHING THE BEST TO THE BRINK
Saint Mary's became the first WCC opponent against San Diego this season to serve for a match point. While the Gaels weren't able to polish away the victory, they made one thing very clear, there is not that much between them and the top team in the West Coast Conference, the San Diego Toreros. The Gaels defense held USD to their lowest hitting percentage in a WCC contest (0.158), due in big part to their block. The 12 Gaels blocks were also the most allowed by the Toreros this season in a WCC match.
LEANING ON THE SENIORS
While so much of the story has been the Gaels youth this year, today, seniors Genevieve Bane and Abby Castillon led the offensive charge for Saint Mary's. Bane led the way with 14 kills, bringing her within 20 kills of 300 for the second straight season. Castillon followed right behind Bane with a season-high 12 kills, swinging 40 times for just the second time this season. While it was clear from their stats that they were the leaders on the court today, their immense leadership off the court, mentoring the 10 freshmen on this squad, has certainly helped the Gaels round into the solid form that they are currently in.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will play their second straight match on the road, but will be much closer to home, heading across the Bay Bridge to play San Francisco on November 13. First serve is set for 6 PM on Thursday evening.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME VOLLEYBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.
#GaelsRise
San Diego jumped out of the chutes hot taking a quick 2-0 lead in set one on a kill and a block. The Gaels, however, never let the Toreros establish a lead larger than two points, and took their own two point lead at 9-7 on back-to-back Tessa Schouten blocks. Neither team could separate from one another from that points, playing to a 21 all stalemate, but three straight points from the Gaels would push them ahead by largest lead at three points, and they would eventually salt away the set one victory by that three point margin, 25-22. The Gaels hit at 0.355 in the opening set, converting 31 swings into 13 kills and just two errors. Leading the charge was Abby Castillon who had five set one kills on nine swings without an error. Defensively, the Gaels shined with 15 digs and five blocks in the first set, with Tessa Schouten going for five rejections and Alayna Pearson for seven digs.
S1 | SMC 8 - USD 7
— Saint Mary's Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) November 8, 2025
The Gaels and the Toreros are underway!
Keep up with today's match:
📺 https://t.co/ZG0kD6ayFv
📊 https://t.co/HV6vppQHYv#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/TYrohskWgb
S1 | SMC 14 - USD 15
— Saint Mary's Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) November 8, 2025
Abby Castillon SLAMS it down as SMC and USD continue to trade points back and forth 💪#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/GRl3q1EI6e
E1 | SMC 25 - USD 22
— Saint Mary's Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) November 8, 2025
Gaels take Set 1‼️#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/FbSJo9aXqw
Set two started close as well, with San Diego taking a narrow 7-6 lead, but would go on a 4-0 run to extend it out to 11-6. The Gaels battled back to draw level at 13 apiece with an emphatic solo block from Abby Castillon, and tied it up three other times, but could never pull in front as the Toreros leveled the match at one apiece with a 25-20 set two win. Genevieve Bane had five of the Gaels 12 kills in set two, while the defense was once again spectacular, led by an 11 dig set two effort from Alayna Pearson.
S2 | SMC 6 - USD 7
— Saint Mary's Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) November 8, 2025
Nobody wins a long rally like Saint Mary's 🙌#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/8T915QGtsC
Recharged from the prolonged set two - set three break, jumping out to a 4-1 lead to open the third frame. San Diego would chip away at the deficit and took their first lead at 10-9, but an 8-3 run from Saint Mary's would put them on the front foot for the remainder of the set, taking in 25-19 to go ahead two sets to one. Tessa Schouten and Abby Castillon each had three kills in the set, but again, the defense told the story for the Gaels, with 18 digs this set, six coming from Miley Thunstrom.
With their backs against the wall, the Toreros came out hot in set four, going ahead 7-3 over the first 10 points. The Gaels responded with a 7-2 run of their own to take their first lead at 10-9, but never got more than a one point lead against San Diego. Down 23-20 lat in the set, the Gaels rattled off three straight points, and five of six, finding themselves serving for the match at 25-24. The Toreros protected the winning streak for at least another set, siding out, following by two more points to take the tightest set of the match 27-25. Miley Thunstrom had her best set of the match with three kills, seven digs and two blocks.
After the Toreros took a 2-0 lead in set five, a Tessa Schouten kill would put the Gaels back within one, but San Diego would keep the pedal to the metal, while the Gaels seemed to run out of gas, as the Toreros indeed would preserve their win streak, taking the decisive fifth set 15-5.
For the second straight match, Genevieve Bane led the Gaels attack with 14 kills, while also recording five blocks. Abby Castilon joined Bane with double-digit kills, with 12 and nine digs. Ivona Lazovic had 26 assists and 10 digs for her third straight double-double, while Madi Zorn added 20 assists. Tessa Schouten and Miley Thunstrom each recorded a pair of aces, with the Gaels tallying seven in total. Defense stole the show for Saint Mary's for the second straight match, with Alayna Pearson tallying 24 digs and Miley Thunstrom totalling 16, and Tessa Schouten getting her hands on eight of the 12 Gael blocks. This was the third 70+ dig match for the Gaels this season, matching their tally from last season.
PUSHING THE BEST TO THE BRINK
Saint Mary's became the first WCC opponent against San Diego this season to serve for a match point. While the Gaels weren't able to polish away the victory, they made one thing very clear, there is not that much between them and the top team in the West Coast Conference, the San Diego Toreros. The Gaels defense held USD to their lowest hitting percentage in a WCC contest (0.158), due in big part to their block. The 12 Gaels blocks were also the most allowed by the Toreros this season in a WCC match.
LEANING ON THE SENIORS
While so much of the story has been the Gaels youth this year, today, seniors Genevieve Bane and Abby Castillon led the offensive charge for Saint Mary's. Bane led the way with 14 kills, bringing her within 20 kills of 300 for the second straight season. Castillon followed right behind Bane with a season-high 12 kills, swinging 40 times for just the second time this season. While it was clear from their stats that they were the leaders on the court today, their immense leadership off the court, mentoring the 10 freshmen on this squad, has certainly helped the Gaels round into the solid form that they are currently in.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will play their second straight match on the road, but will be much closer to home, heading across the Bay Bridge to play San Francisco on November 13. First serve is set for 6 PM on Thursday evening.
DON'T MISS OUT ON HOME VOLLEYBALL ACTION. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.
#GaelsRise
Team Stats
SMC
SD
Kills
53
59
Errors
29
31
Attempts
166
177
Hitting %
.145
.158
Points
72.0
85.0
Assists
52
57
Aces
7
9
Blocks
12
17
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
2
Blocks
8
Kills
9
Aces
2
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's VolleyballL/DS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballVB | Highlights at San Diego, 11-8--25
Saturday, November 08
VB | Highlights vs. Oregon State, 11-6-25
Thursday, November 06
VB | Tyler Hildebrand Presser Post Oregon State, 11-6-25
Thursday, November 06
VB | Tyler Hildebrand Presser, 11-4-25
Tuesday, November 04
