MORAGA, Calif. \u2014 Saint Mary’s Volleyball competed in one of the tightest five set matches that you will see in the sport of volleyball, ultimately falling to Fresno State, 3-2. The Gaels won sets one and three, and held late leads in sets two and five, but ultimately couldn’t get over the hump against the Bulldogs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
HOW IT HAPPENED Again, the Gaels came out firing in set two, and seemed to be in the driver’s seat, ahead 23-20 late in the frame. Fresno State would side out to cut the deficit to two, and followed that up with two aces and two blocks to steal the set two win, 25-23. Despite the result of the set, the Gaels learned that their middle blocker, Ava Galvan<\/a>, was in top form, connecting for eight kills on just nine swings without an error, and adding two blocks in that set.\u00a0<\/p>\n Out of the intermission, the Gaels fell behind early, but erased a 7-3 Bulldog lead, eventually taking their first lead of the third set at 15-14. Fresno State would pull back in front twice, but with the score knotted up at 19 apiece, the Gaels would close out the frame on a 6-1 run, generated primarily by a strong service run from Alayna Pearson<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Looking to close things out in four, the Gaels jumped ahead 8-6 in the early goings of the fourth frame, but Fresno State went back in front at 13-12, and never trailed for the remainder of the set. Saint Mary’s would draw level at 17 all, 18 all, 19 all and 20 all, but three straight kills from the Bulldogs pushed their lead to 23-20, ultimately giving them the momentum to force a fifth set with a 25-23 set four W.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tied up at 10 apiece in set five, the match was too close to call. Then, the Gaels threw what looked to be a decisive haymaker, with Makenzie Jackson<\/a> throwing down her 11th kill of the match, followed by an Anaya Thrower<\/a> block to push ahead 12-10, and prompt a Fresno State timeout. Out of the timeout, however, the Bulldogs would rattle off five straight points, ending the match at a 3-2 scoreline.\u00a0<\/p>\n GAME NOTES
QUOTABLE<\/p>\n UP NEXT
\nThe Gaels picked up where they left off on Thursday evening with a dominant showing in set one. Saint Mary’s doubled up on Fresno State early, 14-7 and never looked back en route to a 25-19 victory. The Gaels scored 23 of their 25 points in the set, with 6.5 coming from Antonie Kelnarova<\/a> on four kills, two aces and a block assist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\n\tSaint Mary’s recorded a season-high 67 kills as a team, their most since going for 71 against Seattle U on Oct. 23, 2025.
\n\tAntonie Kelnarova<\/a> had a team-high 18 kills to go along with 14 digs for her sixth double-double in 12 matches this season.\u00a0
\n\tAva Galvan<\/a> added a career-best 16 kills, finishing with a 0.480 clip, the best of any Gael with double-digit kills in a single match this season.\u00a0
\n\tMakenzie Jackson<\/a> rounded out a trio of double-digit kill attackers, tying her season-high mark of 11.\u00a0
\n\tThis was the second time this season that three Gaels have reached double-digit kills, with the other occurrence happening at Sacramento State on Sep. 5.\u00a0
\n\tFor the fourth time this season the Gaels had double-digit service aces, with 15 today. The Gaels had four double-digit ace matches all of last season.\u00a0
\n\tSaint Mary’s also logged 69 digs, with five different players with double-digit digs for the first time this season.\u00a0
\n\tTrue freshman Mikayla Haner<\/a> had a career-best 12 digs.
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\nThe Gaels will open conference play next week on the road, starting things off at Jenny Craig Pavilion, taking on the defending conference champion San Diego Toreros. First serve for the match on Thursday, Sep. 24 is set for 7 p.m. and can be streamed live on ESPN+.<\/p>\n