VB | White and Kelnarova Record Double-Doubles as Gaels Sweep New Mexico to Open Saint Mary’s Invitational

Thursday, September 17

Moraga, CA

6:30 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

5-6,0-0WCC

New Mexico

2-7,0-0Mountain West

Team	1	2	3	Final F
New Mexico	26	16	20	0
Saint Mary's (CA)	28	25	25	3

Highlights

Sadie White: 35 Assists, 15 Digs, First Double-Double as a Gael

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

VB | White and Kelnarova Record Double-Doubles as Gaels Sweep New Mexico to Open Saint Mary’s Invitational

9/17/2026 9:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Highlights

MORAGA, Calif. — For the fourth time in as many weeks, Saint Mary's Volleyball notched a sweep victory, taking down the New Mexico Lobos 3-0 in match one of Saint Mary's Invitational. The Gaels had standout performances from Antonie Kelnarova (14 Kills, 10 Digs) and Sadie White (35 Assists, 15 Digs) with the latter recording her first double-double as a Gael, helping lead to the dominant victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Why Saint Mary's led by a hefty margin in just about every stat category, the match did not start that way, with New Mexico coming out of the gates hot, and keeping the Gaels at an arm's length throughout the opening frame. Down 19-15 in that set, Coach Tyler Hildebrand utilized a timeout, following a pair of Lobo kills. The Gaels quickly got a sideout of their own out of the break on an Antonie Kelnarova kill, and then sent Kelnarova, their best server, back to the service line. Kelnarova quickly rattled off three straight aces to pull the match level at 19 all. While New Mexico would refind their footing to get to set point at 24-21, the Gaels staved off three straight Lobo set point attempts, and with that momentum, would pull off the set victory 28-26.

Sets two and three were far less eventful, with Saint Mary's throwing sizable opening haymakers en route to the sweep. The Gaels opened the second frame with a 14-4 run, with seven of those points being scored on a Natalie Peete service run. Saint Mary's finished that set off with ease, taking it 25-16. By the culmination of the second set, Sadie White already had logged her first double-double as a Gael, with 23 assists and 12 digs.

Set three saw New Mexico jump ahead to an early 7-2 lead, prompting another Hildebrand timeout. The Gaels came out of the break fired up, and went on an 11-5 run of their own to take their first lead of the set at 13-12. New Mexico tried to fend off the surging Gaels, but with a momentous crowd behind them, the Gaels extended their lead out to 23-18, and ultimately maintained that five point lead through the remainder of the set, finishing off the sweep at 25-20.

GAME NOTES

Sadie White and Antonie Kelnarova both recorded double-doubles in tonight's match. This is the first time this year that the Gaels have had two players record double-doubles in the same match.
The Gaels averaged more than 15 digs per set for the fourth time in the last five games and fifth time this season. Sadie White led all players with a career-high 15 digs.
This was just the second time this year that the Gaels paired their 15+ dig per set tally with at least two blocks per set, with both of those games coming in sweeps of Mountain West Foes (New Mexico and Nevada).
Antonie Kelnarova recorded her third straight double-double and her fifth of the season.
Kelnarova added four service aces, moving her incredible tally to 33 this season. She is just six aces shy of cracking the top-10 in single season program history, and 17 shy of the program record of 50.

QUOTABLE

UP NEXT
The Gaels will be off on day two of the Saint Mary's Invitational as New Mexico will take on Fresno State tomorrow evening at 5 p.m. The Gaels will then get their crack at Fresno State on Saturday, September 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at smcgaels.com/tickets and the match will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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

#GaelsRise