SMC California Athletics

AS A JUNIOR (2021)
Indoor: Appeared in 21 matches during the 2021 fall season...was named to the Preseason All-WCC team...finished second on the Gaels with 189 kills...tied a career-best with 17 kills in the Gaels home opener against San Jose State...led SMC with 28 aces on the year...continued to be one of the most versatile Gaels, finishing fifth in digs and seventh in blocks...eight times, Baka finished with at least 10 kills in a match...five times, she recorded at least 10 digs, including four double-doubles.

AS A SOPHOMORE (2020-21)
Indoor: Started all 17 matches for the Gaels during the 2021 spring season...was named to the Preseason All-WCC team...led the Gaels with 194 kills and averaging 3.08 kills per set...also was the SMC leader in service aces with 25...great defender who was second on the team with 161 digs, three back of the team lead...11 times on the season, Baka finished with 10 or more kills, including each of the last five matches of the year...tied career-bests in kills with 17 twice on the season: 1/27/21 at LMU and 3/18/21 at Santa Clara...ranked 11th in the WCC in kills, and 4th-best in aces...was named to the All-WCC honorable mention list for the first time in her career.

Beach: Paired up with Chandler Cowell all season long and posted an 11-8 record, finishing with the third-most wins of any Gaels pair this season...played anywhere from the first to the fourth pairing, eventually finishing the season as the Gaels top pair...season-best nine wins came from the top pair spot...won two matches against ranked teams: #12 Stanford and #11 Pepperdine...finished the season as the lone Gael to be named to the All-WCC First Team.

AS A FRESHMAN (2019-20)
Indoor: Was one of just three Gaels to play in every set (106) as well as every match (28) during the 2019 season...Recorded 280 kills in her freshman season (2.64 kills per set) which was second most on the team...Collected 56 total blocks: six block solos and 50 block assists...Earned Saint Mary’s Player of the Week on September 16 following the Bay Area Invitational where she was named to the all-tournament team and recorded 31 kills, three service aces and five blocks...Recorded a career-high 17 kills in the November 9 match against Gonzaga.

Beach: Appeared in all eight matches for the Gaels during the 2020 season…along with teammate Chandler Cowell, went 5-3 on the year, wining their final four matches of the season…owned the best record of any Gael pair in 2020…picked up the Gaels second set win of the year against No. 14 Grand Canyon on February 22…swept three matches in a row at the WCC/Big West Challenge on March 7…won their only conference bout against Santa Clara on March 10.

PRIOR TO SAINT MARY'S: Hailing from Thessaloniki, Greece, Baka graduated from the Hellenic College of Thessaloniki in the Spring of 2019. Elena won the national championship in 2016 with the U15 squad, 2017 with U17 and U19, and again in 2018 with the same groups. She was also named MVP of the 2016 national championship team and received two national MVPs and the Best Attacker award. Baka was recruited by a myriad of schools including Stanford, USC, Stetson, Florida State, and Pepperdine just to name a few. 

What do you love most about Saint Mary’s: The green landscape in campus

What do you love most about Saint Mary’s volleyball: The team. Every one of them is special in their own way. 

Favorite volleyball moment: Winning the championship with my team in Greece. 

Favorite beach volleyball moment: Having practice with my brother 

The people that I feel grateful for: My family 

Favorite movie: The Fault in Our Stars 

Second favorite movie: A Star is Born 

Third favorite movie: After 

Favorite place: The center of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Second favorite place: The beach in Preveza, Greece 

Favorite holiday: Halloween 

Favorite food: Chicken with fries 

Personal hobbies: Photography, Traveling, Adventuring

Favorite animals: Dolphins 

Motto: You will never influence the world by trying to be like it.