Saturday, August 29
Moraga, CA
7:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
1-1,0-0WCC
3
vs
0
Southern Utah
0-2,0-0Big Sky
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Utah | 11 | 17 | 13 | 0 |
| Saint Mary's (CA) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Photo by: Ayanna Williams/SMC Athletics
VB | Gaels Make Quick Work of Southern Utah for First Win of 2026
8/29/2026 10:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. — The Saint Mary's Volleyball program picked up win number one of the 2026 season, sweeping the Southern Utah Thunderbirds on day two of the 2026 Gael-Bear Classic. The Gaels' tremendous defensive effort made life tough on Southern Utah all night long, limiting them to just a 0.017 attacking clip and forcing 17 attack errors to just 18 kills in the three set affair.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A pair of early Layne Dent kills helped the Gaels jump ahead to an early 5-2 lead against the Thunderbirds that they would not relinquish throughout the remainder of the set. Saint Mary's hit at an other-worldly 0.789 clip for the set, converting 16 of their final 18 swings of the set into kills. Six different Gaels recorded a kill in the opening stanza, with Antonie Kelnarova and Makenzie Jackson both starting out a perfect 4-for-4.
The second set was a bit more competitive, with the Thunderbirds moving ahead early on a 6-2 run. The Gaels remained steadfast in their resolve, and battled through the early adversity to take their first lead of the set at 15-14. SUU would knot things up at both 15 and 16 apiece before Maddie Way would go on a long service run to go ahead 22-16. The Thunderbirds would sideout just one more time in the second set, with the Gaels pulling ahead 2-0 by taking the second frame 25-17.
An early 9-3 run for the Gaels in set three kept the momentum firmly affixed to Saint Mary's side, as they extended that six point lead to 12 all the way to the finish line, taking the decisive third set, 25-13. Antonie Kelnarova stole the show in the final frame, converting eight swings into four kills, and adding a couple of rocket service aces.
GAME NOTES
UP NEXT
The Gaels will close out the 2026 Gael-Bear Classic by hosting the tournament co-host, the California Golden Bears. First serve is set for 2 p.m. inside UCU Pavilion tomorrow.
Don't miss a second of Saint Mary's Volleyball action in 2026! Tickets are on sale here!
#GaelsRise
HOW IT HAPPENED
A pair of early Layne Dent kills helped the Gaels jump ahead to an early 5-2 lead against the Thunderbirds that they would not relinquish throughout the remainder of the set. Saint Mary's hit at an other-worldly 0.789 clip for the set, converting 16 of their final 18 swings of the set into kills. Six different Gaels recorded a kill in the opening stanza, with Antonie Kelnarova and Makenzie Jackson both starting out a perfect 4-for-4.
The second set was a bit more competitive, with the Thunderbirds moving ahead early on a 6-2 run. The Gaels remained steadfast in their resolve, and battled through the early adversity to take their first lead of the set at 15-14. SUU would knot things up at both 15 and 16 apiece before Maddie Way would go on a long service run to go ahead 22-16. The Thunderbirds would sideout just one more time in the second set, with the Gaels pulling ahead 2-0 by taking the second frame 25-17.
An early 9-3 run for the Gaels in set three kept the momentum firmly affixed to Saint Mary's side, as they extended that six point lead to 12 all the way to the finish line, taking the decisive third set, 25-13. Antonie Kelnarova stole the show in the final frame, converting eight swings into four kills, and adding a couple of rocket service aces.
GAME NOTES
- The Gaels finished out tonight's match with a 0.408 attack percentage, their best in a single match since 2024 when they swept Gonzaga at home and hit at 0.437.
- Eight different Gaels recorded a kill tonight, paced by Antonie Kelnarova, who finished up with nine on 15 swings and just one error (0.533).
- The Gaels top three hitters tonight, Kelnarova, Mackenzie Jackson (8 kills, 0.545) and Ava Galvan (7 kills, 0.455) all hit better than 0.450 in the match.
- Alayna Pearson set a new single game career-high, with four service aces, becoming just the 27th Gael to record four aces in a three set match.
- Antonie Kelnarova added three aces, while Caitlin Prior and Maddie Way (in her Gael debut) each logged a pair. The two aces for Prior and Way were both career-highs, with Prior's two netting her her first collegiate points.
- As a team, the Gaels racked up 12 service aces, tying them for third most in a three set match in program history.
- For the second straight match, the Gaels outblocked their opponent, this time to the tune of a 7-2 advantage. Ava Galvan and Makenzie Jackson each tallied three roofs, as the Gaels now own a 17-11 blocking advantage against their opponents for the season.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will close out the 2026 Gael-Bear Classic by hosting the tournament co-host, the California Golden Bears. First serve is set for 2 p.m. inside UCU Pavilion tomorrow.
Don't miss a second of Saint Mary's Volleyball action in 2026! Tickets are on sale here!
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballL/DS
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
SUU
SMC
Kills
18
37
Errors
17
8
Attempts
60
71
Hitting %
.017
.408
Points
24.0
56.0
Assists
16
34
Aces
4
12
Blocks
2
7
Game Leaders
Kills
9
Aces
3
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Saturday, August 29
Saturday, August 29
Saturday, August 29
Friday, August 28
