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VB | Strong Blocking Day Not Enough to Propel Gaels Past Lions

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LOS ANGELES — Saint Mary’s (11-17, 9-8 WCC) continued their strong play at the net, but struggled to get the offense going, falling to LMU (6-20, 4-13 WCC) in four in their penultimate match of the season. The Gaels will look to regroup for their finale on Saturday against Pepperdine, looking to play spoilers against the Waves, who are still looking for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

The Gaels erased an early 5-1 deficit in set one to gain their first lead at 10-9. That lead would only last one set, however, as the Lions would close out the set on a 15-8 run to work ahead one set to none. Abby Castillon accounted for four of the Gaels 12 set one kills, while Alayna Pearson went for seven digs and an ace in the opening frame. 

Set two also found the Gaels in an early hole, behind 12-9. A 5-0 run would push the Gaels in front 14-12, but a 10-6 response from LMU would put them in striking distance of 2-0 at 22-20. Four straight points, and six of the final eight, however, would give the Gaels enough to outlast the Lions at 26-24 to draw level at a set apiece, and trounce any hopes of an LMU sweep. Tessa Schouten captained the ship for the Gaels on both sides of the net, with three kills on four swings and no errors in set two, while recording three blocks. As a team, the Gaels had eight roofs in set two, with five from Layne Dent to lead the charge. 

After building an early 3-1 lead in set three, the Gaels would surrender a 10-0 run, and would never quite recover, getting as close as five before ultimately falling by seven, 25-18. This set, it was MIley Thunstrom’s turn to go three for four without an error, but she was about it for the Gaels offensively in the frame. 

In deja vu fashion, the Gaels again went ahead 3-1 to open set four, but this time gave up a 7-0 run to the Lions. LMU would hold the lead all the way until Saint Mary’s would level things off at 22 all, but the Gaels could never get over the hump, ultimately dropping the decisive fourth set 25-23. Layne Dent was the driving force behind the near comeback attempt, with four kills on nine swings without an error. 

Abby Castillon led all Gaels with 11 kills. Ivona Lazovic and Madi Zorn split setting duties, with 16 assists from the former and 15 from the latter. Lazovic also added nine digs, while Zorn chipped in an ace. The Gaels digs leader was libero Alayna Pearson, with 18, while also notching an ace. As a team, the Gaels had 14 blocks, one off their season-high, with seven from Layne Dent and five each from Genevieve Bane and Tessa Schouten. 

SOLID AT THE NET

The Gaels tallied 14 blocks today, their second highest tally this year, helping limit LMU to a 0.126 attack clip. Seven different Gaels recorded a block, led by a career-high seven from freshman Layne Dent. Tessa Schouten and Genevieve Bane each added five, while Miley Thunstrom matched her career-high with four. Rounding out the group, Abby Castillon, Kaliko Kealoha and Anaya Thrower all totalled one. 

GROWING UP BEFORE OUR EYES

True freshman Layne Dent made her first collegiate start a week ago, and followed that up with her second this past Saturday, and while she came of the bench today, it was arguably her best match yet. The Eatonville, Washington native matched her career-high with seven kills, while setting a new career mark with seven blocks. Dent swung 18 times, the most in her young career, and was very efficient, with a 0.333 clip and just one error. Over her last three matches, Dent has gone for 17 kills and 13 blocks, while tallying just two kills and one block prior to this recent stretch. 

UP NEXT

The Gaels will round out their season taking on Pepperdine in Malibu on Saturday, November 29. First serve is set for noon. 

#GaelsRise





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