MORAGA, Calif.- Both the second and third sets required more than 25 points to emerge victorious in Seattle University volleyball’s meeting with Saint Mary’s, but the Redhawks (3-11, 0-4 WCC) could not extend the match any further, falling 3-0 (11-25, 25-27, 25-27) to the Gaels (9-8, 4-1 WCC) inside UCU Pavilion on Thursday evening.
Freshman Vai Unga and sophomore Chloee Leslie combined for 14 kills, each leading the Redhawks with seven kills a piece. Unga hit .333 on 18 attempts with one error, while picking up a solo block and two digs. Sophomore Lexi Jones posted four kills on seven attempts with one error, hitting .429. The middle blocker picked up 3.0 blocks, including two solo.
Guiding the offense was sophomore Bella Jones, who combined for 14 assists. Jones also led the team from the service line, logging two aces. Fellow setter, junior Grace Jones, went for double-digit assists, adding ten in three sets of action.
Freshman Janae Demant matched Jones with two aces. Demant paced the team with eight digs.
Junior Hailey McEllrath and freshman Orinayo Olukanmi each went for a match-high three solo blocks. Olukanmi led all blockers with 4.0 total blocks.
The Redhawks combined for 30 kills, 27 assists, four aces, 11.0 blocks and 21 digs, out pacing the Gaels in blocks 11.0 to 4.0.
Seattle U faced an early deficit in the first set as the Gaels quickly grabbed control, leading by as many as 12 before the Redhawks started chipping at the lead. Seattle U crafted a 4-1 run with three kills from Leslie and a block from Olukanmi, but Saint Mary’s would close the set with a 4-0 run of its own to take set one 25-11.
The Redhawks rebounded in the second set, matching the Gaels point for point until Seattle U built a 4-0 run with Leslie leading from the service line. Back to back kills from Olukanmi gave SU the 8-4 advantage early in the second set. Another tug of war ensued before the Redhawks pushed back their lead to four, taking advantage of some Gael errors. A block from Olukanmi and Lexi Jones followed by an ace from Bella Jones, the Redhawks led 19-13 late in the second set. A late 4-0 run from the Gaels tied the set 22-22 before a McEllrath block gave the Redhawks set point. Saint Mary’s closed the set on a 4-1 to thwart the Redhawks 27-25 in set two.
Another back and forth ensued in the third set, with both teams refusing to allow runs. After Saint Mary’s pushed past the Redhawks by two, Seattle U came back with a 4-0 run with three straight kills. Demant capped off the run with an ace to force a Saint Mary’s timeout. The Redhawks led 9-7 before the two programs exchanged four more ties midway into the set. After trailing by three late, 22-19, the Redhawks reclaimed the lead with a 5-0 run kick started by a kill from Unga. A pair of blocks from McEllrath tied the third set 22-all. After exchanging service errors to keep the set tied, the Gaels turned away SU’s comeback with a 3-1 run to take the set 27-25 to claim the match win.
The Redhawks return to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel for their first meeting with Pacific this season.
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