MORAGA, Calif.—UC San Diego women's volleyball opened the 2026 season with a 3-1 victory at Saint Mary's on Friday evening in UCU Pavilion. The Tritons (1-0) took down the Gaels (0-1) by set scores of 20-25, 25-22, 25-15 and 25-19. In the first match of the Gael Bear Classic, the Tritons recorded a .293 hitting percentage, significantly outperforming the Gaels' .143.
Molly McCluskey led the team with 12 kills and a .321 hitting percentage, adding five service aces and 12 digs. In her first career start for the Tritons, senior
Katelyn Hernandez matched McCluskey with a match-high 12 kills.
Brynne McGhie orchestrated the offense with 37 assists while contributing nine digs.
Lucia Barroso was effective at the net, recording nine kills with a .529 hitting percentage and five total blocks.
Ireland McNees added 11 kills and one service ace, finishing the match with 13 total points and
Paulina Baillie led the team with 13 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego kept pace with SMC early in the opening set, highlighted by key plays such as
Yasemin Elmas' kill and a subsequent block that tied the score at 8-8. As the set progressed, the Tritons maintained pressure, with Barroso and McCluskey contributing crucial kills to keep the score competitive. Despite their efforts, the Gaels capitalized on service and attack errors, pulling ahead to close the frame. The set concluded with Saint Mary's in front, 25-20.
The Tritons overcame an early deficit in the second set after Saint Mary's went on a 4-1 run to open the frame. After trailing 14-10, UC San Diego capitalized on several errors by the Gaels, with Baillie's serves playing a crucial role in an eight-point scoring run. Hernandez and McCluskey contributed key kills, helping the Tritons tie and then take the lead, 18-14. UC San Diego maintained momentum, closing the set at 25-22 with McNees delivering the final point. The set victory leveled the match at one set apiece.
UC San Diego opened the third set with a strong performance, establishing a quick lead through a series of blocks by McCluskey and Barroso. McCluskey further bolstered the team's advantage with a service ace and multiple kills, contributing significantly to an early 6-1 lead. Despite a few errors allowing the Gaels to score, the Tritons maintained control. McNees and Hernandez contributed crucial kills, while McGhie consistently set up scoring opportunities. The set concluded with UC San Diego securing a decisive 25-15 victory.
In the fourth set, UC San Diego capitalized on several service aces and attack errors by Saint Mary's to take control. McCluskey delivered two consecutive service aces early, securing the Tritons' lead, 6-5. McGhie consistently set up her teammates, assisting Hernandez and McNees for key kills that maintained their lead.
Jaedyn Houston also contributed significantly with a six-point serving run, which helped UC San Diego widen the gap. Despite a brief rally from the Gaels, the Tritons maintained their composure, with Elmas securing the final point of the set, 25-19, and sealing the match victory for the Tritons, 3-1.
TRITON TIDBITS
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will remain in the Bay Area on Saturday for day two of the Gael Bear Classic, taking on California at 7 p.m. in Berkeley. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX and live statistics will be available via UCSDTritons.com.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
