Thursday, September 10
Boise, ID
2:30 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
vs
Eastern Washington
The Gaels Rank 2nd in the Country with 63 Service Aces
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
VB | Gaels Make First Trip Out of California in Week 3, Head to Boise State Invitational
9/8/2026 2:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. — After opening the season at home, and making a short trek to Sacramento this past week, the Gaels will get out of California for the first time this season, heading to Boise for three games at the Boise State Invitational. The Gaels will take on the likes of Eastern Washington and Boise State over the first two days of the event, before closing out with a rematch against Sacramento State for the tournament finale after the two sides battled it out in a five setter just last week.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Eastern Washington Eagles
Thursday, September 10 at 2:30 p.m.
ExtraMile Arena – Boise, Idaho
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels at Boise State Broncos
Friday, September 11 at 5 p.m.
ExtraMile Arena – Boise, Idaho
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Sacramento State Hornets
Saturday, September 12 at 10 a.m.
ExtraMile Arena – Boise, Idaho
WATCH | LIVE STATS
SERVING SPECIALISTS
Through two weeks of the season, Saint Mary's has proven to be one of the top serving teams in the country. Through six matches, the Gaels rank second in the country with 63 total aces, averaging 2.63 per set, good for fifth in the country. Leading that effort are Czech nationals Antonie Kelnarova and Caroline Formankova. Kelnarova has tallied 20 aces on the year, including a program-record 11 in a single match against Nevada last week, to rank third in the country, while Formankova is not far behind, with 17, good for ninth in the country. As a team, the Gaels put up an incredible 20 aces last week in a single match against Nevada, a new program single game record. That record is all the more impressive when factoring in the match was a three set sweep for the Gaels.
ROAD TRIP
After traveling over 10,000 miles last year in the non-conference, the Gaels will leave the state of California for the first time this year, making the approximately 675 miles trip to Boise for this upcoming tournament. This should be an excellent early test for the Gaels, who will go on their longest conference road trip in WCC week one, heading to San Diego and Denver on September 24 and 26.
ABOUT THE EAGLES
Eastern Washington is off to a tremendous start in 2026, winning five of its first six contests for the first time since 2006. Fifth year head coach Jon Haruguchi looks well on his way to his first winning season in Cheney. Leading the charge for the Eagles is fourth year outside hitter and returning All-Big Sky selection Kalista Lukovich, who has recorded at-least 17 kills and six digs in every match this season. This will mark the fourth all-time meeting between the Gaels and Eagles, with Saint Mary's holding a narrow 2-1 series lead.
ABOUT THE BRONCOS
Like the Gaels, the Boise State Broncos sit with a record of 3-3, with a 2-1 record in their home facility, and a 1-2 record away from home. 18th year head coach Shawn Garus is fast approaching the program all-times win record of 342 set by Darlene Bailey in her 19 years at the helm. With the three wins this year, Garus currently sits with 301 wins with the Broncos. Garus has built a roster chocked full of veteran talent paired with exciting youth. Senior middle blocker Kendall Hastings is a prime example of star vets, hitting at 0.256 and recording a team-high 29 blocks, while freshman outside hitter Azlynn Tittmann represents the younger bucks, with 42 kills and a team-best eight aces. In seven all-time meetings, the Broncos lead the series 5-2, with the Gaels lone win in Boise coming all the way back in 1990.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Here we go again, exactly one week after their five set thrilling matchup in Sacramento, the Gaels will quickly renew hostilities with the Hornets. The Hornets ran the table at their Sacramento State Invitational last week to improve to 3-3. 19th year head coach Ruben Volta eclipsed 300 wins during that tournament in the Hornets opener against Nevada. Returning All-American Victoria Marthaler led the Hornets to victory against the Gaels last week, with 20 kills and a pair of aces, while setter Makenna Wiepert logged 40 assists, 10 digs and three aces. Including last week's matchup, the Gaels are now just 10-26 all-time against the Hornets.
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. Eastern Washington Eagles
Thursday, September 10 at 2:30 p.m.
ExtraMile Arena – Boise, Idaho
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels at Boise State Broncos
Friday, September 11 at 5 p.m.
ExtraMile Arena – Boise, Idaho
WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Sacramento State Hornets
Saturday, September 12 at 10 a.m.
ExtraMile Arena – Boise, Idaho
WATCH | LIVE STATS
SERVING SPECIALISTS
Through two weeks of the season, Saint Mary's has proven to be one of the top serving teams in the country. Through six matches, the Gaels rank second in the country with 63 total aces, averaging 2.63 per set, good for fifth in the country. Leading that effort are Czech nationals Antonie Kelnarova and Caroline Formankova. Kelnarova has tallied 20 aces on the year, including a program-record 11 in a single match against Nevada last week, to rank third in the country, while Formankova is not far behind, with 17, good for ninth in the country. As a team, the Gaels put up an incredible 20 aces last week in a single match against Nevada, a new program single game record. That record is all the more impressive when factoring in the match was a three set sweep for the Gaels.
ROAD TRIP
After traveling over 10,000 miles last year in the non-conference, the Gaels will leave the state of California for the first time this year, making the approximately 675 miles trip to Boise for this upcoming tournament. This should be an excellent early test for the Gaels, who will go on their longest conference road trip in WCC week one, heading to San Diego and Denver on September 24 and 26.
ABOUT THE EAGLES
Eastern Washington is off to a tremendous start in 2026, winning five of its first six contests for the first time since 2006. Fifth year head coach Jon Haruguchi looks well on his way to his first winning season in Cheney. Leading the charge for the Eagles is fourth year outside hitter and returning All-Big Sky selection Kalista Lukovich, who has recorded at-least 17 kills and six digs in every match this season. This will mark the fourth all-time meeting between the Gaels and Eagles, with Saint Mary's holding a narrow 2-1 series lead.
ABOUT THE BRONCOS
Like the Gaels, the Boise State Broncos sit with a record of 3-3, with a 2-1 record in their home facility, and a 1-2 record away from home. 18th year head coach Shawn Garus is fast approaching the program all-times win record of 342 set by Darlene Bailey in her 19 years at the helm. With the three wins this year, Garus currently sits with 301 wins with the Broncos. Garus has built a roster chocked full of veteran talent paired with exciting youth. Senior middle blocker Kendall Hastings is a prime example of star vets, hitting at 0.256 and recording a team-high 29 blocks, while freshman outside hitter Azlynn Tittmann represents the younger bucks, with 42 kills and a team-best eight aces. In seven all-time meetings, the Broncos lead the series 5-2, with the Gaels lone win in Boise coming all the way back in 1990.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Here we go again, exactly one week after their five set thrilling matchup in Sacramento, the Gaels will quickly renew hostilities with the Hornets. The Hornets ran the table at their Sacramento State Invitational last week to improve to 3-3. 19th year head coach Ruben Volta eclipsed 300 wins during that tournament in the Hornets opener against Nevada. Returning All-American Victoria Marthaler led the Hornets to victory against the Gaels last week, with 20 kills and a pair of aces, while setter Makenna Wiepert logged 40 assists, 10 digs and three aces. Including last week's matchup, the Gaels are now just 10-26 all-time against the Hornets.
Don't miss a second of Saint Mary's Volleyball action in 2026! Tickets are on sale here!
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
OPP
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