Thursday, October 1
Los Angeles, CA
6:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
at
LMU
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
VB | Gaels Return to SoCal for Second Straight Week, Put 2-0 WCC Record to the Test Against LMU and Pepperdine
9/29/2026 2:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. — The Saint Mary's volleyball team got off to a blistering start in conference play, handing the San Diego Toreros their first conference loss since 2024 and handing the Denver Pioneers their first ever WCC loss in a 2-0 road week. That said, the Gaels have a pair of opponents also boasting perfect starts in conference play in week two, heading back to Southern California to take on LMU on Thursday evening and Pepperdine on Saturday afternoon.Â
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels at LMU Lions
Thursday, October 1 at 6 p.m.
Gersten Pavilion - Los Angeles, Calif.Â
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels at Pepperdine Waves
Friday, October 3 at 1 p.m.
Firestone Fieldhouse - Malibu, Calif.Â
WATCH | LIVE STATS
TWO AND OH...
Saint Mary's opened conference play 2-0 for the first time since 2022, and for just the seventh time in program history. That number widdles down to just three times in program history, including this year, that the Gaels have opened 2-0 in conference play with two road wins. The program record for best start in conference play is 4-0, recorded in 2004, 2005 and 2009. The Gaels will have a chance to match that program record start this week at LMU and Pepperdine.
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WHITE'S DOUBLE-DOUBLE STREAK CONTINUES
On September 17 in a matchup against New Mexico, sophomore setter Sadie White made her first start since week two of the season. From that point, White has been nothing short of spectacular, going for four consecutive double-doubles, and helping the Gaels to a 3-1 record in that stretch. In that stretch, White is averaging 10.41 assists/set and 3.06 digs/set. The four straight double-doubles are a new career-long streak for White, and are one short of Antonie Kelnarova's season-long five match consecutive double-double streak.
KELNAROVA INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS
Just 14 matches into her Saint Mary's career, junior outside hitter Antonie Kelnarova has already etched herself into the program history books. The Prague native already has tallied 39 aces this season, already good for the ninth most in single season program history. She is just 11 aces away from the program record of 50 set by Alexsa Parker in 2018. With 16 matches remaining this year, that record is well within reach.
ABOUT THE LIONS
Like the Gaels, the LMU Lions are seeing major strides under a second year head coach, Kolby O'Donnell. After just seven wins last year, the Lions are off to a stellar 11-2 start, including a 2-0 WCC week last week to open conference play. Oregon transfer Maria Tabacuks has been a force for the Lions in the early part of the season, leading the team with 194 kills and 13 aces, while tallying 113 digs and 30 blocks, both good for top-five rankings on the team. All-time, the Lions are 55-22 against the Gaels, winning each of the last eight meetings.Â
ABOUT THE WAVES
Pepperdine joins the Gaels and LMU Lions at 2-0 to start conference play, and will have a chance to go to 3-0 with a Thursday night tilt in Malibu against Pacific. Unlike the Gaels and Lions, however, the Waves have the second longest tenured coach in conference, as Scott Wong is in year 12 fresh off of picking up win number 200 at the end of last season. This year's Pepperdine squad holds a record of 10-3, and is riding a six game win streak that includes a road sweep of USC. The Waves have proven to be one of the best blocking teams in the country, due in large part to returning two time first team All-WCC honoree Ella Piskorz. The middle blocker ranks second in the country with 79 total blocks, helping the Waves to lead the WCC in blocks per set as a team at 2.66. This matchup will be the 77th all-time between the Gaels and Waves, with Pepperdine leading the all-time series 60-16.Â
Don't miss a second of Saint Mary's Volleyball action in 2026! Tickets are on sale here!
#GaelsRise
Â
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels at LMU Lions
Thursday, October 1 at 6 p.m.
Gersten Pavilion - Los Angeles, Calif.Â
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels at Pepperdine Waves
Friday, October 3 at 1 p.m.
Firestone Fieldhouse - Malibu, Calif.Â
WATCH | LIVE STATS
TWO AND OH...
Saint Mary's opened conference play 2-0 for the first time since 2022, and for just the seventh time in program history. That number widdles down to just three times in program history, including this year, that the Gaels have opened 2-0 in conference play with two road wins. The program record for best start in conference play is 4-0, recorded in 2004, 2005 and 2009. The Gaels will have a chance to match that program record start this week at LMU and Pepperdine.
Â
WHITE'S DOUBLE-DOUBLE STREAK CONTINUES
On September 17 in a matchup against New Mexico, sophomore setter Sadie White made her first start since week two of the season. From that point, White has been nothing short of spectacular, going for four consecutive double-doubles, and helping the Gaels to a 3-1 record in that stretch. In that stretch, White is averaging 10.41 assists/set and 3.06 digs/set. The four straight double-doubles are a new career-long streak for White, and are one short of Antonie Kelnarova's season-long five match consecutive double-double streak.
KELNAROVA INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS
Just 14 matches into her Saint Mary's career, junior outside hitter Antonie Kelnarova has already etched herself into the program history books. The Prague native already has tallied 39 aces this season, already good for the ninth most in single season program history. She is just 11 aces away from the program record of 50 set by Alexsa Parker in 2018. With 16 matches remaining this year, that record is well within reach.
ABOUT THE LIONS
Like the Gaels, the LMU Lions are seeing major strides under a second year head coach, Kolby O'Donnell. After just seven wins last year, the Lions are off to a stellar 11-2 start, including a 2-0 WCC week last week to open conference play. Oregon transfer Maria Tabacuks has been a force for the Lions in the early part of the season, leading the team with 194 kills and 13 aces, while tallying 113 digs and 30 blocks, both good for top-five rankings on the team. All-time, the Lions are 55-22 against the Gaels, winning each of the last eight meetings.Â
ABOUT THE WAVES
Pepperdine joins the Gaels and LMU Lions at 2-0 to start conference play, and will have a chance to go to 3-0 with a Thursday night tilt in Malibu against Pacific. Unlike the Gaels and Lions, however, the Waves have the second longest tenured coach in conference, as Scott Wong is in year 12 fresh off of picking up win number 200 at the end of last season. This year's Pepperdine squad holds a record of 10-3, and is riding a six game win streak that includes a road sweep of USC. The Waves have proven to be one of the best blocking teams in the country, due in large part to returning two time first team All-WCC honoree Ella Piskorz. The middle blocker ranks second in the country with 79 total blocks, helping the Waves to lead the WCC in blocks per set as a team at 2.66. This matchup will be the 77th all-time between the Gaels and Waves, with Pepperdine leading the all-time series 60-16.Â
Don't miss a second of Saint Mary's Volleyball action in 2026! Tickets are on sale here!
#GaelsRise
Â
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's VolleyballMonday, September 28
Saturday, September 26
Thursday, September 24
Saturday, September 19
