NORMAN, Okla. — While the Gaels (1-7) will be leaving the Sooner State without a victory, they can still hold their heads high, as Saint Mary's was able to hang tough with an incredibly strong Oklahoma (7-1) team in each and every one of the seven total sets they played in this weekend. Not once in any of these sets did the Gaels fall out of contention, scoring at least 19 points in each, as they continue to grow together as a team, now with just one more week of non-conference play before kicking off their conference slate.
Oklahoma jumped out to an early 11-6 lead, and while this Gaels team two weeks ago may have wilted with the large deficit in front of them, they remained steadfast in their resolve today, clawing back to level things at 15 apiece. A pair of sideouts would keep things level at 16 all, but the Sooners would then use a 3-0 run to get the separation they would need to polish off the first set, taking it 25-19. Genevieve Bane was the star of the Gaels set one offense with five kills, while, as usual, setter Ivona Lazovic pulled the strings behind the scenes with nine assists and five digs. Freshmen Mya Allen remained red hot as well, adding four kills.
Set two was tight from the get go, with Mya Allen and Genevieve Bane each rattling off two early kills to give the Gaels a narrow 8-7 lead. Again, the Sooners would go on a brief but decisive run, this time at 4-0 to take the lead at 11-8, and while the Gaels would battle to get the gap back to just one point twice, they would never be able to tie or retake the lead against Oklahoma, dropping set two 25-20. Just like in set one, Allen and Bane led the charge for SMC with six and four kills respectively in the frame.
The Gaels would hold their latest lead in a set in the third, as Kaliko Kealoha amassed three kills and a block early, helping Saint Mary's to a 13-12 lead at the halfway point of the set. Unfortunately, Oklahoma would respond with their longest scoring run of the match, scoring five straight to work ahead by four, the ultimate margin of victory in the final set, 25-21. Kealoha's three kills in the set came on just five swings without an error to help the SMC effort.
For the second straight match, Mya Allen and Genevieve Bane both reach double-digit kills. For the second time in the last three matches, Allen led the Gaels with 12 kills, while also chipping in four digs and a block. After having her double-digit kill match streak ended last week, Bane has now started another, going for 11 tonight after tallying 17 yesterday. Ivona Lazovic was consistent as ever from the set position, totalling 27 assists to go along with a team-best eight digs, one block, one ace and two kills on two attempts. Also recording aces tonight were Bane and Natalie Peete. For the first time this season, the Gaels hit better than 0.200 as a team in back-to-back matches, doing so against one of the most formidable defensive opponents they will see this season in Oklahoma.
EFFICIENT FROM THE MIDDLE
Despite being down one of their starting middle blockers, Anaya Thrower, fellow starter Tessa Schouten remained solid and Kaliko Kealoha rose to the occasion today, as the duo combined to hit at a 0.500 clip with eight kills on 16 swings and no errors. Schouten was a steady change of pace option for the Gaels throughout the match, converting on one kill in the first set, and a pair in both the second and third. Kealoha, meanwhile, turned it on for the Gaels in the third and final set, connecting on three of five swings in the final frame.
UN-ACE-ABLE
After recording a then season-low three serve reception errors yesterday, the Gaels did even better tonight, not allowing a single Oklahoma ace. Alayna Pearson led the charge receiving 18 services, while Genevieve Bane was 17-17 on her reception attempts. Mya Allen (12) and Natalie Peete (10) also were given double digit opportunities to start sideout opportunities for the Gaels and did not miss. This was just the fourth time in the last decade that the Gaels have gone an entire match without surrendering a service ace.
WEEKEND IN REVIEW
It was Saint Mary's best offensive weekend of the young season, both by volume and efficiency, as the Gaels averaged 12.43 kills per set and hit at a 0.267 clip for the week, both single week season bests in 2025. The offense was led by Genevieve Bane (28 kills) and Mya Allen (25 kills) and was driven by setter Ivona Lazovic (62 assists). That said, Lazovic did so much more than just set for Saint Mary's this weekend, tallying nine kills on 10 swings with just one error, and finishing second on the team with a pair of aces, three blocks and 12 digs. Defensively, Alayna Pearson stayed as hot as they come. After an incredible 4.56 digs per set average last week, the junior libero surpassed that with a 4.57 dig per set average this week, headlined by a 26 dig performance Friday night that was good for fifth most in a four set match in program history. Pearson was the driving force behind the Gaels surrendering just three service aces over the seven sets played this weekend.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will play in their final non-conference tournament of the season next weekend, host by Cal Poly. Saint Mary's will open that tournament by taking on their hosts, the Cal Poly Mustangs on September 18 at 6 PM.
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