Tuesday, September 15
Moraga, CA
2:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
vs
CSU Bakersfield
Mikayla Haner Drew Her First Collegiate Start Last Week and Helped the Solid Defensive Effort
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
VB | Gaels Host CSU Bakersfield, New Mexico and Fresno State to Close Out Non-Conference Slate
9/14/2026 10:41:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. — After two weeks away from UCU Pavilion, the Saint Mary's volleyball team will return home for its final week of non-conference play, hosting CSU Bakersfield, New Mexico and Fresno State. The Gaels currently sit with a 4-5 record, but with three wins this week, could enter WCC play with a winning record for the first time since 2021.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners
Tuesday, September 15 at 2:00 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. New Mexico Lobos
Thursday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Fresno State Bulldogs
Saturday, September 19 at 2:00 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
A WEEK FOR THE BACK ROW
Saint Mary's saw a massive effort from its back row players during the Boise Invitational, averaging 18 digs per set over the three match weekend. Libero Alayna Pearson led the charge with 44 digs for the tournament, eclipsing 500 for her Gael career. Do-it-all outside hitter Antonie Kelnarova was next, with 30 digs, while Caitlin Prior had 23 and Natalie Peete had 20. The Gaels also had only 11 reception errors, their lowest tally in a three match stretch this season.
PRIOR RISES TO SETTER ONE
Saint Mary's moved to a 5-1 rotation for the first in 2026, and it was true freshman Caitlin Prior who earned the nod as the Gaels lone setter. The San Diego native answered the bell against Sacramento State in the Boise Invitational finale, with a career-high 52 assists to go along with eight digs and her first collegiate block.
ABOUT THE ROADRUNNERS
After a 2-1 start, CSU Bakersfield has dropped four of their last five, including both of their contests this past weekend at the Santa Clara Mission Classic against Santa Clara and San Diego State. First year Head Coach Kristen Wright is off to the best start of any first year Roadrunner coach since Jolene Shepardson started 3-5 in 2011. Second year Roadrunner Suelen Lima has been the star for Coach Wright in the early going this year, already with 109 kills in just eight matches. Standing at 6-1, Lima is an imposing force both as an attacker and blocker, while also playing stout back row defense, with 69 digs on the year. The Gaels are 5-1 all-time vs CSU Bakersfield, but lost their last meeting in 2023 on a neutral floor at the Santa Clara Mission Classic.
ABOUT THE LOBOS
Like CSU Bakersfield, New Mexico is also led by a first year head coach, as Brian Hosfeld has taken the reins for the Lobos after last seeing time as a head coach at Baylor from 1996-2003. The Lobos are coming off of back-to-back losing seasons in 2024 and 2025, but enjoyed a 56-34 record the three years prior. UNM will come into the weekend having dropped nine straight sets last week against a trio of power programs in Nebraska, Georgia tech and Baylor, so this team has been battle tested. The Lobos have shown an impressive ability to prolong rallies with their stellar defense, headlined by libero Camila Canedo and full rotation outside hitter Mina Stanojevic, both averaging north of 3.3 digs per set. Despite their regionality, this will be the first all-time meeting between the Gaels and Lobos.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
It's been tough sledding for Fresno State and fourth year head coach Leisa Rosen, who enjoyed 35 wins over her first two seasons, but has just 10 since. The Bulldogs are off to a 3-6 start to open the 2026 campaign, and will see New Mexico on Friday night before taking on the Gaels on Saturday afternoon. If you need to know one name for the Bulldogs, its senior outside hitter Jenna Legault. The Bothell, Washington native is averaging 4.11 kills per set on the young campaign, filling the massive shoes left by last year's star Addison Haluska (428 Kills in 2025). The Gaels and Bulldogs have split their previous 12 meetings, with the Gaels winning each of the last six meetings between 2007 and 2018.
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. CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners
Tuesday, September 15 at 2:00 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. New Mexico Lobos
Thursday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Fresno State Bulldogs
Saturday, September 19 at 2:00 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
A WEEK FOR THE BACK ROW
Saint Mary's saw a massive effort from its back row players during the Boise Invitational, averaging 18 digs per set over the three match weekend. Libero Alayna Pearson led the charge with 44 digs for the tournament, eclipsing 500 for her Gael career. Do-it-all outside hitter Antonie Kelnarova was next, with 30 digs, while Caitlin Prior had 23 and Natalie Peete had 20. The Gaels also had only 11 reception errors, their lowest tally in a three match stretch this season.
PRIOR RISES TO SETTER ONE
Saint Mary's moved to a 5-1 rotation for the first in 2026, and it was true freshman Caitlin Prior who earned the nod as the Gaels lone setter. The San Diego native answered the bell against Sacramento State in the Boise Invitational finale, with a career-high 52 assists to go along with eight digs and her first collegiate block.
ABOUT THE ROADRUNNERS
After a 2-1 start, CSU Bakersfield has dropped four of their last five, including both of their contests this past weekend at the Santa Clara Mission Classic against Santa Clara and San Diego State. First year Head Coach Kristen Wright is off to the best start of any first year Roadrunner coach since Jolene Shepardson started 3-5 in 2011. Second year Roadrunner Suelen Lima has been the star for Coach Wright in the early going this year, already with 109 kills in just eight matches. Standing at 6-1, Lima is an imposing force both as an attacker and blocker, while also playing stout back row defense, with 69 digs on the year. The Gaels are 5-1 all-time vs CSU Bakersfield, but lost their last meeting in 2023 on a neutral floor at the Santa Clara Mission Classic.
ABOUT THE LOBOS
Like CSU Bakersfield, New Mexico is also led by a first year head coach, as Brian Hosfeld has taken the reins for the Lobos after last seeing time as a head coach at Baylor from 1996-2003. The Lobos are coming off of back-to-back losing seasons in 2024 and 2025, but enjoyed a 56-34 record the three years prior. UNM will come into the weekend having dropped nine straight sets last week against a trio of power programs in Nebraska, Georgia tech and Baylor, so this team has been battle tested. The Lobos have shown an impressive ability to prolong rallies with their stellar defense, headlined by libero Camila Canedo and full rotation outside hitter Mina Stanojevic, both averaging north of 3.3 digs per set. Despite their regionality, this will be the first all-time meeting between the Gaels and Lobos.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
It's been tough sledding for Fresno State and fourth year head coach Leisa Rosen, who enjoyed 35 wins over her first two seasons, but has just 10 since. The Bulldogs are off to a 3-6 start to open the 2026 campaign, and will see New Mexico on Friday night before taking on the Gaels on Saturday afternoon. If you need to know one name for the Bulldogs, its senior outside hitter Jenna Legault. The Bothell, Washington native is averaging 4.11 kills per set on the young campaign, filling the massive shoes left by last year's star Addison Haluska (428 Kills in 2025). The Gaels and Bulldogs have split their previous 12 meetings, with the Gaels winning each of the last six meetings between 2007 and 2018.
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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Friday, September 11
Thursday, September 10
Saturday, September 05
