MORAGA, Calif. — Another close battle played out Saturday between the Santa Clara University volleyball team and Saint Mary's, but like the first meeting, the Gaels were able to hold off the Broncos to eek out a narrow 3-1 (25-19, 25-19, 21-25, 25-22) West Coast Conference win at University Credit Union Pavilion.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Saturday's first set was tied at 17-17, and it was still only a three-point difference at 21-18 before Saint Mary's (13-11, 7-5 WCC) rattled off four of the set's last five points to win 25-19. So when SMC won the second set by the same score, instead of a 1-1 tie match score, it led, 2-0.
   
• Even with that early match lead, the teams very well would've headed to a deciding fifth set if the Gaels didn't put together a last-second push to come back and win the fourth. Santa Clara (11-14, 3-10 WCC) led 21-20, but Saint Mary's got two blocks, two kills and capitalized on an SMC service error to score five of the final six points and win the set, 25-22, and the match, 3-1.
   
• The Broncos dominated the third set, winning 25-21. A key 7-0 run erased a one-point, 8-7 deficit and surged them ahead by six at 14-8. Santa Clara's lead never fell below three points from that point on. The Broncos had four service aces in the third set and outhit the Gaels, .293 to .211.
   
• The first time the two teams met at Leavey Center a month ago on Oct. 7, Saint Mary's came away with the 3-0 victory. But it was by the skin of their teeth. The first two sets were won by the minimum two points, and the third set was won by three points. Santa Clara had late leads in all three sets, and neither team ever led by more than four.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• .414: Oren Abutbul led Santa Clara with a .414 hitting percentage. She had 15 kills against the Gaels. It marked the ninth time in 2023 that she hit at least .300, and the fifth time she's done so with at least 10 kills.
• 10: Nive Tuileta tallied her team-leading 10th double-double of the year with a match-high 50 assists and 13 digs. It was her second consecutive double-double after also having one Thursday at home versus San Diego.
• 50: Tuileta's 50 assists Saturday marked the second time this season she's had at least 50 in a match. In fact, it was the second time in the past two weeks after collecting a season-high 54 at Gonzaga on Oct. 26.

NEXT UP

• The Broncos return home Thursday to host WCC leader Pepperdine in their penultimate home match of the year. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.