Saint Mary's women's volleyball beat San Diego 3-2 on Thursday, Sept. 24, rallying after trailing two sets to one at Jenny Craig Pavilion. The five-set win ended a 15-match losing streak against the Toreros dating to 2018.
The Gaels won 10-25, 25-19, 12-25, 25-20, 16-14, according to SMC Athletics. The victory also snapped USD's 20-match conference unbeaten streak, making Saint Mary's the first WCC program to beat the Toreros since 2024.
The Moraga program opened conference play 1-0 for the first time since 2022.
Junior outside hitter Antonie Kelnarova led the way with 15 kills and a career-high 20 digs. Setter Sadie White added 40 assists and 11 digs. Both recorded double-doubles for the third straight match.
San Diego took the first set 25-10 and the third 25-12. But the Gaels answered each time. In set two, Layne Dent and Anaya Thrower combined for eight kills on 17 swings at a .353 clip, and Saint Mary's closed on a 10-3 run to win 25-19. Thrower finished with eight kills and zero attack errors, a career best for an errorless match.
Trailing 12-9 in set four, the Gaels got a service run from Natalie Peete that leveled the score at 13-13. Head coach Tyler Hildebrand called a timeout at 19-17 USD, and Saint Mary's responded with an 8-1 run to force a fifth set. The Gaels piled up 24 digs in that frame alone, eight from Alayna Pearson and six from Kelnarova.
Saint Mary's trailed 14-10 in the fifth set. Dent answered with back-to-back kills to cut it to 14-12. Then Pearson stepped to the service line. Her knuckling float serve rattled the Toreros, who never sided out again. Saint Mary's took the final six points to win 16-14.
Dent reached 15 kills for the third time this season. The win was also the Gaels' first true road victory since beating Seattle U on Nov. 1, 2025.
Saint Mary's heads to Denver to face the conference newcomer on Saturday, Sept. 26. First serve at Hamilton Gymnasium is set for noon PT.
