SEATTLE - Seattle University volleyball forced a fourth set after an early deficit against the visiting Saint Mary’s, but the Redhawks (6-15, 0-10 WCC) could not complete the comeback, falling 3-1 to the Gaels (8-13, 6-4 WCC) at the Redhawk Center on Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore Madyn Cervellera led both teams with 19 kills on the day, finishing one kill shy of three straight matches with 20+ kills. The Lake Stevens native also combined for 2.0 blocks, seven digs and an ace.
Junior Adee Butler went for her second straight game with double-digit kills, accruing 10 kills while matching her career high on the defensive end, collecting 3.0 blocks. Fellow junior Teagan Melton recorded eight kills while picking up a block.
Redshirt junior Yasemin Elmas paced the team with 4.0 blocks while picking up five kills on 15 attempts. Redshirt junior Elif Teksoy led both teams with 22 assists, while also picking up a kill and four digs. Senior Marley Hardgrave matched Butler in blocks, recording 3.0 on the day.
Freshman Katelynn Albano led the way with ten digs while recording her fourth match in a row with at least one ace. Fellow freshman Petra Fritz also extended her streak to four straight matches with at least one ace.
The Redhawks combined for 47 kills, 37 assists, four aces, 37 digs and seven blocks.
Saturday’s match opened evenly matched, trading four ties until Saint Mary’s broke through 7-5 behind a 3-0 run. The Redhawks kept pace until the Gaels pushed their lead up to four, 11-7. Kills from Butler, Cervellera and Hardgrave swung SU back within two, but a pair of aces and a kill from Saint Mary’s forced another Seattle U timeout. Trailing by as many as seven out of the break, the Redhawks battled back with three straight scores, kick started by a Melton kill and capped with an ace from sophomore Grace Jones. The Gaels responded with a 5-2 run to clinch the first set 25-18.
The Redhawks faced an early deficit in the second set, trailing 8-1 before taking a timeout. After the break, the Gaels built up their lead to 10, only allowing SU three points off errors. A kill from Butler awoke the Redhawk offense, spurring them on a 6-1 run. Three straight kills from Cervellera cut into the deficit 16-10 before the Gaels rattled off scores to go back up by nine. SU pulled back within seven led behind Elmas and Cervellera but the Gaels grabbed the 2-0 set lead behind a kill and an ace.
Trailing into the third set, the Redhawks completed a 180, jumping out quickly 9-6 with kills from Butler, Elmas and Cervellera. A 3-0 run from the Gaels leveled the set 9-all before Seattle U constructed a 3-0 run of its own to force Saint Mary’s to take a time out. The Redhawks kept up their keep away act, not allowing another substantial run from the Gaels while putting up points. Kills from Hardgrave and Teksoy pushed the Redhawks up 20-16 before Hardgrave’s block, assisted by Melton and Elmas, forced set point. The Gaels got two back but a final Saint Mary’s error tipped the set in favor of the Redhawks, forcing a fourth set.
Saint Mary’s mimicked its second set, jumping out ahead of the Redhawks behind a 6-0 run through the middle of the set. Butler directed a 3-0 run for the Redhawks to pull back within four as an ace from Albano forced a Saint Mary’s timeout. The Gaels came out of the break building a 8-2 run to take the match 3-1 in the fourth set.
The Redhawks return to action on Thursday, traveling to Pacific for their first meeting with the Tigers this season. Seattle U returns home on November 8 to host San Francisco for its Alumni Day at the Redhawk Center.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a gift to Seattle University Athletics can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly impacts all Redhawk student athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. Thank you for supporting Seattle University Athletics!
Follow Along With the Action
Stay connected with Seattle U volleyball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.