MORAGA, Calif. - The Saint Mary's volleyball team (10-8, 5-2 West Coast Conference) faces two nationally ranked opponents this week. On Thursday, the Gaels take on No. 16 Brigham Young (18-1, 6-1 WCC) at 6:00 p.m (PT) in a match televised by BYUtv. Saint Mary's returns home on Saturday to face conference leader and No. 13 San Diego (16-2, 8-0 WCC) at 1:00 p.m.
Saturday's match in McKeon Pavilion is a "Dig Pink" match. Pink drawstring backpacks will be given to the first 50 fans. A silent auction will take place and proceeds will go towards cancer research at UCSF.
Fans who attend the men's basketball Blue-White Inter-squad scrimmage on Saturday morning, can also purchase a reduced price volleyball ticket for the SMC vs. No. 13 USD match at 1:00 p.m.
Last week the Gaels played one match and defeated Gonzaga 25-22, 25-15, 25-21 in Moraga. Saint Mary's hit .336 as a team, led by Lauren Corp with 15 kills (.560) and Kristina Graven with 12 kills (.667).
BYU's only loss of the season came in McKeon Pavilion, a 25-15, 25-11, 19-25, 26-24 win for the Gaels. In the match, the Gaels only commited two attack errors combined in the first two sets to set the stage. BYU found its rhythm in the third set, having an errorless set of their own. The closest set was the fourth set as SMC rallied from being down 23-20, to escape with the 26-24 win.
Five Gaels reached double-figures in kills, led by Graven's 18 kills and 13 digs. SMC hit at a .345 clip for the match and added 10 aces.
Saint Mary's has won three of the last four meetings with the Cougars, including winning two-of-three against BYU last year.
The first-place Toreros defeated SMC in San Diego on October 3rd in four sets. Saint Mary's last defeated USD last year on October 26 in San Diego, a five-set SMC victory. Last year in McKeon Pavilion, San Diego edged the Gaels in five sets.
Courtesy: Paul Harrison
