Saturday, September 12
Boise, ID
10:00 AM
Saint Mary's College of California
4-5,0-0WCC
1
vs
3
Sacramento State
4-5,0-0Big West
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary's (CA) | 25 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 1 |
| Sacramento St. | 21 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Layne Dent went for a career-high 24 kills
Photo by: Tod Fierner
VB | Dent Goes for Career-High 24 Kills, Gaels Fall in Four to Hornets
9/12/2026 1:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BOISE, Idaho — For the second time in seven days, the Saint Mary's Gaels renewed hostilities with regional rival Sacramento State, this time on a neutral floor in Boise, Idaho. The Gaels put up stellar offensive and defensive numbers, but ultimately fell to the Hornets 3-1. The Gaels close out the Boise State Invitational with a 1-2 record at the event.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was all Gaels early. Saint Mary's jumped out to an early 11-8 lead, and ballooned that to 17-12, never allowing the Hornets to settle in. From that point, the Gaels were able to simply sideout to victory in set one, 25-21. Layne Dent showed early that she would be force to be reckoned with in the Gaels new look 5-1 offense, going for six kills on eight swings without an error in set one.
Sets two and three were both hard fought battles that saw the Hornets throw the opening punches, but the Gaels battle back late. In the second frame, Saint Mary's trailed 18-14, but responded with a 5-0 run to regain the lead. The Hornets would once again pull ahead at 23-21, but a Maddie Way kill and an Antonie Kelnarova ace would level things at 23, before Sacramento State was eventually to take the final two points. In similar fashion, set three saw the Hornets pull ahead at 21-18 before a 5-2 Gaels run, once again knotting the score at 23 all. Again, however, Sac State was able to close out the match following an epic Gael comeback effort.
The Hornets kept the Gaels at arms length from the jump in the fourth. The Gaels cut the deficit to two late at 21-19 on back-to-back kills from Kelnarova and Dent, but Sacramento State would close out the match on a 4-0 run to earn the victory.
GAME NOTES
The Gaels will have a quick turnaround, hosting Cal State Bakersfield on Tuesday, September 15 at 2 p.m. Get your tickets today at smcgaels.com/tickets or tune to watch live on ESPN+.
Don't miss a second of Saint Mary's Volleyball action in 2026! Tickets are on sale here!
#GaelsRise
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was all Gaels early. Saint Mary's jumped out to an early 11-8 lead, and ballooned that to 17-12, never allowing the Hornets to settle in. From that point, the Gaels were able to simply sideout to victory in set one, 25-21. Layne Dent showed early that she would be force to be reckoned with in the Gaels new look 5-1 offense, going for six kills on eight swings without an error in set one.
Sets two and three were both hard fought battles that saw the Hornets throw the opening punches, but the Gaels battle back late. In the second frame, Saint Mary's trailed 18-14, but responded with a 5-0 run to regain the lead. The Hornets would once again pull ahead at 23-21, but a Maddie Way kill and an Antonie Kelnarova ace would level things at 23, before Sacramento State was eventually to take the final two points. In similar fashion, set three saw the Hornets pull ahead at 21-18 before a 5-2 Gaels run, once again knotting the score at 23 all. Again, however, Sac State was able to close out the match following an epic Gael comeback effort.
The Hornets kept the Gaels at arms length from the jump in the fourth. The Gaels cut the deficit to two late at 21-19 on back-to-back kills from Kelnarova and Dent, but Sacramento State would close out the match on a 4-0 run to earn the victory.
GAME NOTES
- After having success running a 5-1 in the final set last night against Boise State, Coach Hildebrand employed it for the entirety of today's match.
- Layne Dent was a huge beneficiary of this change, going for a career best 24 kills, tying her for fifth most in a four set match in program history.
- Dent's previous career-high of 13 was set against the Hornets last week.
- Charged by Dent and Antonie Kelnarova (19 Kills), the Gaels reached 60 kills in a four set match for the first time since 2023, when they went for 61 in a four set win over Portland State (Sep. 2, 2023).
- True freshman Caitlin Prior got the nod as the Gaels lone setter in the 5-1 offense, and smashed her previous career-high of 29 assists, with 52, to go along with eight digs and her first collegiate block.
- The Gaels also eclipsed the 70 dig mark as a team, tallying 73, their most since going for 79 against Oregon State last year (Nov. 6, 2025).
- Defensively, Alayna Pearson led the charge with a season-high 22, while Kelnarova and Natalie Peete each added 13.
- Joining true freshman Caitlin Prior on the floor today were fellow classmates Mikayla Haner, who made her first collegiate start and tallied nine digs and two aces, and Lainey Day, who recorded five kills on six swings without an error.
The Gaels will have a quick turnaround, hosting Cal State Bakersfield on Tuesday, September 15 at 2 p.m. Get your tickets today at smcgaels.com/tickets or tune to watch live on ESPN+.
Don't miss a second of Saint Mary's Volleyball action in 2026! Tickets are on sale here!
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballL/DS
/ Women's VolleyballL/DS
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
SMC
SacSt
Kills
60
44
Errors
32
15
Attempts
167
143
Hitting %
.168
.203
Points
70.0
59.0
Assists
59
42
Aces
6
4
Blocks
4
11
Game Leaders
Kills
24
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
19
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Saturday, September 12
Friday, September 11
Thursday, September 10
Saturday, September 05
