VB | Third Set Rally Comes Up Short, As Gaels Fall in Three to Broncos

Friday, September 11

Boise, ID

5:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

4-4,0-0WCC

Boise State

5-4,0-0Pac-12

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Saint Mary's (CA)	18	15	24	0
Boise St.	25	25	26	3

Natalie Peete was pivotal with six digs in the third set

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

VB | Third Set Rally Comes Up Short, As Gaels Fall in Three to Broncos

9/11/2026 8:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Highlights

BOISE, Idaho — Fresh off of a dominant sweep of Eastern Washington, Saint Mary's could not keep the momentum rolling against the host Boise State Broncos on day two of the Boise State Invitational, falling 3-0. The Gaels continued to show an outstanding back row effort, now averaging nearly 18 digs per set for the weekend, but struggled to handle a formidable Bronco blocking contingent at the net.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gaels and Broncos were deadlocked for the first eight points of the match, as Antonie Kelnarova and Anaya Thrower linked up for three of the first four Gael points. A 5-0 Boise State run immediately thereafter would give them a lead that they would not surrender throughout the rest of the set. The Gaels were able to get the deficit to one point on two occasions at 10-9 and 15-14 but couldn't quite get over the hump to ever gain control of the set, ultimately falling, 25-18.

The momentum of a 10-4 run for the Broncos to close out set one carried over into set two, as Boise State led wire-to-wire in the second frame. Alayna Pearson put up a monumental effort defensively to give Saint Mary's a chance in the frame, but the offense struggled to find any open space on the hardwood against the Broncos in the second stanza.

Coming out of the intermission, Saint Mary's looked to play their best set, pushing the Broncos to the brink of dropping a home set, something they've done just five times in six home matches this year. A long Alayna Pearson service run gave Saint Mary's an early 7-2 lead, and while Boise State would respond with a long 10-1 run of their own, the Gaels refound their footing to knot things up at 15 apiece. Over the final 20 points of the set, the Gaels and Broncos were tied six times. With the Broncos serving for the match at 24-23, Antonie Kelnarova put down her match-best 12th kill of the night to extend the contest, but back-to-back Bronco kills would end the match.

GAME NOTES

For the second consecutive match, the Gaels averaged better than 13 kills per set.
Antonie Kelnarova led all players on either side with 12 kills.
The Gaels also put up a solid back row performance, with 52 digs in the three set match, just two shy of yesterday's 54 digs in a three setter.
With her 10 digs tonight, Alayna Pearson reached 500 for her Saint Mary's career.
Caitlin Prior finished just one dig shy of her first collegiate double-double, but did match her career-high with nine digs to go along with 20 assists.
Pearson also added three aces, one shy of her career-high in a single match.
Hadlee Gray made her first Division I start, finishing with three kills and five digs.
True freshman Mikayla Haner recorded her first collegiate kill.

UP NEXT
The Gaels will close out their trip to Boise with a rematch with last Saturday's opponent, the Sacramento State Hornets. First serve is set for 10 a.m. PST and can be streamed live on YouTube.

Don't miss a second of Saint Mary's Volleyball action in 2026! Tickets are on sale here!

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