Thursday, October 15
San Francisco, CA
6:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
at
San Francisco
Layne Dent has seen a massive uptick in her stats since the start of WCC Play
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
VB | Gaels Bring Season-Long Win Streak on the Road to San Francisco and Santa Clara
10/13/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. — The winners of each of their last three contests, and five of their last six, the Saint Mary's Gaels will have a chance to tie and surpass their win tally from a year ago when they take on San Francisco (Oct. 15) and Santa Clara (Oct. 17).
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels at San Francisco Dons
Thursday, October 15 at 6 p.m.
War Memorial at the Sobrato Center – San Francisco, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels at Santa Clara Broncos
Saturday, October 17 at 1 p.m.
Leavey Center – Santa Clara, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
TWO SEPARATE SEASONS
The Gaels have looked like two completely different teams in non-conference play vs. conference play. In their 12 non-conference matchups, the Gaels went 5-7, averaged just 12.40 kills per set and hit at 0.156. Since the start of WCC play, however, the Gaels have already matched their non-conference win tally, opening at 5-1, while hitting 0.248 and averaging 14.09 kills per set. No player has been a bigger beneficiary of the change over to conference play than Layne Dent, who has seen her kills per set number jump from 2.41 to 3.61 while seeing her attack percentage leap from 0.159 to 0.277. With a team that featured 12 newcomers, the Gaels are truly demonstrating that a team can grow together and get stronger as a season wears on.
STACKING THE DECK
One number that remains consistent between conference and non-conference play for the Gaels have been their incredible ace numbers. Antonie Kelnarova has been at the center of this phenomenon, with 46 aces in just 18 matches, good for third most in the country, and second most in a single season in Saint Mary's Volleyball history. As a team, the Gaels rank sixth in the nation in total service aces (150) and fifth in aces per set (2.14).
ABOUT THE DONS
The USF Dons got off to a solid start in non-conference play, but have won just one of their first five conference contests to bring their overall record to 9-9. Sixth year Head Coach Diogo Silva has already surpassed last year's win tally, when his team went 7-21, but has some work to do to get back into the upper echelons of the conference. The Dons are one spot behind the Gaels in the conference in team service aces, with 110.Sophomore middle blocker Emma Neukirchen sits tied for second individually in the conference with 30 of those 110 aces (tied with Alayna Pearson). Neukirchen also leads the team with 44 blocks and a 0.302 hitting percentage. In 80 all-time meetings, the Gaels lead the series 50-30, however, the two teams have split 38 meetings on the Hilltop, with the Dons winning each of the last two meetings at home.
ABOUT THE BRONCOS
Santa Clara is the only team that the Gaels have yet to see that was picked to finish ahead of them in the preseason WCC poll. Against the other three teams in that category, the Gaels have gone 2-1, defeating Pepperdine and San Diego, and falling to LMU. Meanwhile, the Broncos fell to Pepperdine and LMU at home to open the conference slate, but since have gone 3-0 with wins at Portland, Seattle and San Francisco, dropping just one set in those three. Eighth year head coach Erin Lindsey is just two wins shy of 100 for her time at SCU, and could reach that mark this week with wins over Pacific and Saint Mary's. Just one win this week would move her into second all-time for wins as a Santa Clara head coach. The Broncos have a formidable offensive attack, leading the WCC in kills per set and assists per set. Morgan Hayes (4.28) and Cate Shanahan (3.91) rank as the top two attackers in the conference, while Macy Hinshaw (10.76) leads the WCC in assists per set. That said, the Broncos were without Hayes for their last two contests. Santa Clara leads the all-time series 45-34, but the Gaels have won in eight of their last 11 showdowns with the Broncos.
Don't miss a second of Saint Mary's Volleyball action in 2026! Tickets are on sale here!
#GaelsRise
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels at San Francisco Dons
Thursday, October 15 at 6 p.m.
War Memorial at the Sobrato Center – San Francisco, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels at Santa Clara Broncos
Saturday, October 17 at 1 p.m.
Leavey Center – Santa Clara, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
TWO SEPARATE SEASONS
The Gaels have looked like two completely different teams in non-conference play vs. conference play. In their 12 non-conference matchups, the Gaels went 5-7, averaged just 12.40 kills per set and hit at 0.156. Since the start of WCC play, however, the Gaels have already matched their non-conference win tally, opening at 5-1, while hitting 0.248 and averaging 14.09 kills per set. No player has been a bigger beneficiary of the change over to conference play than Layne Dent, who has seen her kills per set number jump from 2.41 to 3.61 while seeing her attack percentage leap from 0.159 to 0.277. With a team that featured 12 newcomers, the Gaels are truly demonstrating that a team can grow together and get stronger as a season wears on.
STACKING THE DECK
One number that remains consistent between conference and non-conference play for the Gaels have been their incredible ace numbers. Antonie Kelnarova has been at the center of this phenomenon, with 46 aces in just 18 matches, good for third most in the country, and second most in a single season in Saint Mary's Volleyball history. As a team, the Gaels rank sixth in the nation in total service aces (150) and fifth in aces per set (2.14).
ABOUT THE DONS
The USF Dons got off to a solid start in non-conference play, but have won just one of their first five conference contests to bring their overall record to 9-9. Sixth year Head Coach Diogo Silva has already surpassed last year's win tally, when his team went 7-21, but has some work to do to get back into the upper echelons of the conference. The Dons are one spot behind the Gaels in the conference in team service aces, with 110.Sophomore middle blocker Emma Neukirchen sits tied for second individually in the conference with 30 of those 110 aces (tied with Alayna Pearson). Neukirchen also leads the team with 44 blocks and a 0.302 hitting percentage. In 80 all-time meetings, the Gaels lead the series 50-30, however, the two teams have split 38 meetings on the Hilltop, with the Dons winning each of the last two meetings at home.
ABOUT THE BRONCOS
Santa Clara is the only team that the Gaels have yet to see that was picked to finish ahead of them in the preseason WCC poll. Against the other three teams in that category, the Gaels have gone 2-1, defeating Pepperdine and San Diego, and falling to LMU. Meanwhile, the Broncos fell to Pepperdine and LMU at home to open the conference slate, but since have gone 3-0 with wins at Portland, Seattle and San Francisco, dropping just one set in those three. Eighth year head coach Erin Lindsey is just two wins shy of 100 for her time at SCU, and could reach that mark this week with wins over Pacific and Saint Mary's. Just one win this week would move her into second all-time for wins as a Santa Clara head coach. The Broncos have a formidable offensive attack, leading the WCC in kills per set and assists per set. Morgan Hayes (4.28) and Cate Shanahan (3.91) rank as the top two attackers in the conference, while Macy Hinshaw (10.76) leads the WCC in assists per set. That said, the Broncos were without Hayes for their last two contests. Santa Clara leads the all-time series 45-34, but the Gaels have won in eight of their last 11 showdowns with the Broncos.
Don't miss a second of Saint Mary's Volleyball action in 2026! Tickets are on sale here!
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's VolleyballL/DS
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