Friday, August 28
Moraga, CA
7:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
vs
UC San Diego
Anaya Thrower is one of six returners and two returning starters for the Gaels
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
VB | Gaels Open 2026 Campaign Hosting Three Contests as Part of the Gael-Bear Classic
8/26/2026 10:31:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. — Volleyball season is officially upon us, as the Saint Mary's Gaels, now under the second year direction of head coach Tyler Hildebrand, will open up their 2026 season at home with a three games in three day stretch as part of the 2026 Gael-Bear Classic. This will be the first time that the Gaels will open the season at home since 2004. The Gaels will take on the likes of UC San Diego, Southern Utah and Cal to start the campaign, after not getting a chance to play in front of their home crowd until early October a season ago.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. UC San Diego Tritons
Friday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Southern Utah Thunderbirds
Saturday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Cal Golden Bears
Sunday, August 30 at 2:00 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
WELCOME TO MORAGA!
Saint Mary's welcomes in 12 new student-athletes for the 2026 season, seven transfers and five true freshmen. At the defensive specialist position, true freshman Kiana Johnson will bring depth after winning three state championships at Jesuit High School in Portland.
The Gaels brought in a pair of setters, Sadie White and Caitlin Prior. White transfers in from the University of North Dakota after starting at setter for the Fighting Hawks as a true freshman, while Prior joins her sister Amanda on the squad after winning a state title with the Academy of Our Lady of Peace in San Diego.
The Gaels brought in their biggest positional group at the pins, with six new faces joining the squad. UIC transfer Antonie Kelnarova is the veteran of the group, as the junior out of Prague put together two stellar seasons with the Flames, and was named to the preseason All-WCC team. Fellow outside hitter Hadlee Gray makes her way to Moraga from San Joaquin Delta College after tallying over 500 kills there last year, while opposites Makenzie Jackson (Montana State) and Caroline Formankova (Michigan State) both bring in a year of DI action under their belts. Rounding out the group of incoming pin hitters are true freshmen Tallulah Carney, an imposing force at the Webb School in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Mikayla Haner a versatile hitter out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona.
Last, but certainly not least, the Gaels added a trio of middle blockers, Lainey Day, Ava Galvan and Maddie Way. Day is a true freshman out of Damascus, Oregon, who was a four-time all-league honoree at Adrienne C. Nelson High School. Galvan joins her UND turned SMC teammate Sadie White in Moraga after starting at middle blocker down the home stretch for the Fighting Hawks. Way returns to her home state of California after two years at the University of Hawaii.
THEY'RE BACK
Despite the heavy contingent of newcomers, the Gaels do return a core group of six student-athletes from last year's roster, four of which saw time on the court in 2025. Leading that group is the program's lone senior, Alayna Pearson. Pearson became just the eighth player in program history to record at least 400 digs in a single season, and was the Gaels starting libero in 28 of 29 matches. Middle blocker Anaya Thrower also returns after battling through injuries to appear in 20 matches and hit at a 0.321 clip. Layne Dent stepped up in a big way for the Gaels last year, playing as a middle blocker for the Gaels despite being an outside hitter by trade, appearing in 10 matches, including two starts in the middle. The longest tenured Gael on the roster, defensive specialist Natalie Peete will be back for year four, with over 300 digs to her name. Amanda Prior and Milani Billings both also return after not seeing any action in 2025.
ABOUT THE TRITONS
UC San Diego is coming off of their worst season since transitioning to Division back in 2020, going just 6-24 in 2025. Spencer McLachlin took over the reins for the Tritons ahead of the 2026 campaign, and has quite a bit of familiarity with Tyler Hildebrand, as the two were on staff together at USC in 2024. Despite the tough finish to the 2025 campaign, the Tritons were picked to finish eighth in the 12 team Big West, one spot higher than where they finished a year ago. UCSD should lean heavily on their returning honorable mention All-Big West pin hitter Molly McCluskey, who was named to the preseason All-Big West squad, headlining a group of four returning starters. This will be the first all-time meeting between these two squads.
ABOUT THE THUNDERBIRDS
The Thunderbirds of Southern Utah will search for their second winning season in program history here in 2026 under the second year direction of head coach Danielle Jensen. Coach Jensen tallied just three wins in her inaugural season, but brings back 2025 WAC All-Freshman honoree Kaitlyn Hoelker after a strong inaugural season. The Gaels are no strangers to the Thunderbirds, having met five times in program history, including three meetings in the last decade. Saint Mary's hosted Southern Utah in 2023 for their last meeting, with the Gaels picking up a 3-1 victory.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
After not seeing one another for the first time in five years, Saint Mary's and Cal will renew their East Bay regional rivalry here in 2026. Coach Jenn Malcom will look for her first winning season in Berkeley after going 24-38 in her first two seasons. Coach Malcom will have some solid continuity from last year's roster, with five of seven starters returning to this year's squad, as the Golden Bears were picked to finish 13th in the 18 team ACC. Look for this year's Cal squad to be led by senior libero Sophia Johnson after her best collegiate campaign a year ago. Saint Mary's will look for just their fourth win ever over the Golden Bears in 27 all-time meetings.
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 vs. UC San Diego Tritons
Friday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Southern Utah Thunderbirds
Saturday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Cal Golden Bears
Sunday, August 30 at 2:00 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
WELCOME TO MORAGA!
Saint Mary's welcomes in 12 new student-athletes for the 2026 season, seven transfers and five true freshmen. At the defensive specialist position, true freshman Kiana Johnson will bring depth after winning three state championships at Jesuit High School in Portland.
The Gaels brought in a pair of setters, Sadie White and Caitlin Prior. White transfers in from the University of North Dakota after starting at setter for the Fighting Hawks as a true freshman, while Prior joins her sister Amanda on the squad after winning a state title with the Academy of Our Lady of Peace in San Diego.
The Gaels brought in their biggest positional group at the pins, with six new faces joining the squad. UIC transfer Antonie Kelnarova is the veteran of the group, as the junior out of Prague put together two stellar seasons with the Flames, and was named to the preseason All-WCC team. Fellow outside hitter Hadlee Gray makes her way to Moraga from San Joaquin Delta College after tallying over 500 kills there last year, while opposites Makenzie Jackson (Montana State) and Caroline Formankova (Michigan State) both bring in a year of DI action under their belts. Rounding out the group of incoming pin hitters are true freshmen Tallulah Carney, an imposing force at the Webb School in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Mikayla Haner a versatile hitter out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona.
Last, but certainly not least, the Gaels added a trio of middle blockers, Lainey Day, Ava Galvan and Maddie Way. Day is a true freshman out of Damascus, Oregon, who was a four-time all-league honoree at Adrienne C. Nelson High School. Galvan joins her UND turned SMC teammate Sadie White in Moraga after starting at middle blocker down the home stretch for the Fighting Hawks. Way returns to her home state of California after two years at the University of Hawaii.
THEY'RE BACK
Despite the heavy contingent of newcomers, the Gaels do return a core group of six student-athletes from last year's roster, four of which saw time on the court in 2025. Leading that group is the program's lone senior, Alayna Pearson. Pearson became just the eighth player in program history to record at least 400 digs in a single season, and was the Gaels starting libero in 28 of 29 matches. Middle blocker Anaya Thrower also returns after battling through injuries to appear in 20 matches and hit at a 0.321 clip. Layne Dent stepped up in a big way for the Gaels last year, playing as a middle blocker for the Gaels despite being an outside hitter by trade, appearing in 10 matches, including two starts in the middle. The longest tenured Gael on the roster, defensive specialist Natalie Peete will be back for year four, with over 300 digs to her name. Amanda Prior and Milani Billings both also return after not seeing any action in 2025.
ABOUT THE TRITONS
UC San Diego is coming off of their worst season since transitioning to Division back in 2020, going just 6-24 in 2025. Spencer McLachlin took over the reins for the Tritons ahead of the 2026 campaign, and has quite a bit of familiarity with Tyler Hildebrand, as the two were on staff together at USC in 2024. Despite the tough finish to the 2025 campaign, the Tritons were picked to finish eighth in the 12 team Big West, one spot higher than where they finished a year ago. UCSD should lean heavily on their returning honorable mention All-Big West pin hitter Molly McCluskey, who was named to the preseason All-Big West squad, headlining a group of four returning starters. This will be the first all-time meeting between these two squads.
ABOUT THE THUNDERBIRDS
The Thunderbirds of Southern Utah will search for their second winning season in program history here in 2026 under the second year direction of head coach Danielle Jensen. Coach Jensen tallied just three wins in her inaugural season, but brings back 2025 WAC All-Freshman honoree Kaitlyn Hoelker after a strong inaugural season. The Gaels are no strangers to the Thunderbirds, having met five times in program history, including three meetings in the last decade. Saint Mary's hosted Southern Utah in 2023 for their last meeting, with the Gaels picking up a 3-1 victory.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
After not seeing one another for the first time in five years, Saint Mary's and Cal will renew their East Bay regional rivalry here in 2026. Coach Jenn Malcom will look for her first winning season in Berkeley after going 24-38 in her first two seasons. Coach Malcom will have some solid continuity from last year's roster, with five of seven starters returning to this year's squad, as the Golden Bears were picked to finish 13th in the 18 team ACC. Look for this year's Cal squad to be led by senior libero Sophia Johnson after her best collegiate campaign a year ago. Saint Mary's will look for just their fourth win ever over the Golden Bears in 27 all-time meetings.
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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