Panthers Open TCAL Play with Statement Win over St. Patrick-St. Vincent

Monday,September 8, 2025 - Saint Mary’s Volleyball opened TCAL play with a dominant performance against St. Patrick-St. Vincent, a team that had their number last season with three straight wins. This time, the Panthers set the tone early and never let up, earning a convincing 3-0 sweep on Hagler Court.

In the opening set, Saint Mary’s jumped out to an early lead and closed strong, fueled by a remarkable serving run from freshman Isabella Garzo-Cuevas, who rattled off eight straight aces to seal the set, 25-9.

The momentum carried into the second game, where the Panthers once again took control from the first serve. Senior Kalaya Phung and freshman Kaitlyn Dennis combined for 15 service points, helping Saint Mary’s roll to a 25-10 victory.

The third set tested the Panthers’ resilience, as SPSV displayed their trademark grit with relentless defense and hustle. The teams traded points back and forth until Saint Mary’s tied it at 19. From there, the Panthers closed on a decisive 6-3 run to finish the sweep, 25-22.

With the victory, Saint Mary’s makes a strong opening statement in TCAL play. The Panthers now turn their focus to a home matchup against rival Salesian on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. on Hagler Court.

Girls Volleyball Shines with 5-1 Week, Strong Showing at Bishop O’Dowd Tournament

Saturday, September 6, 2025 - It was a busy week for the Saint Mary’s Girls Volleyball team, and the Panthers rose to the challenge, finishing 5-1 over six matches. Their strong play carried into the weekend, where they competed in the Bishop O’Dowd High School Tournament on Saturday.

In pool play, Saint Mary’s was unstoppable, going 3-0 with sweeps over all three opponents:

• Kennedy (Fremont): 25-17, 25-1

• International (San Francisco): 25-23, 25-21

• Amador Valley: 25-23, 25-12

The Panthers advanced to bracket play where they faced Monte Vista. Saint Mary’s opened strong with a 25-22 win in the first set. Monte Vista answered back 25-21 in the second, forcing a decisive third set. Despite the Panthers’ grit, Monte Vista closed it out 15-8, ending Saint Mary’s run.

Still, with five wins in six matches and a commanding tournament performance, the Panthers showcased their depth, consistency, and ability to compete with top programs.

Up next, Saint Mary’s will face another full week of action: Monday at home versus SPSV, Wednesday against Salesian, and Friday on the road at San Leandro.

Panthers’ Depth and Team Effort Power 3–1 Victory Over Head-Royce

Friday, September 5, 2025 - Saint Mary’s traveled to Head-Royce on Friday night with plenty to prove. The Jayhawks have been a familiar postseason obstacle in recent years, twice eliminating the Panthers from the North Coast Section Championships. To make matters more challenging, Saint Mary’s entered the match shorthanded, missing two key players in freshman Kaitlyn Denis and junior London Crawford.

The opening set reflected those early adjustments, as the Panthers struggled to find rhythm. But behind the steady play of freshman Landry Fa’fui, Saint Mary’s clawed back from a deficit and closed out the first set 25–19.

Head-Royce responded in set two, capitalizing on Panther miscues and controlling the pace to even the match with a 25–15 win.

In the pivotal third set, the Panthers regrouped with sharper focus and energy. Saint Mary’s built a seven-point lead before Head-Royce rallied to pull within one at 18–17. Unfazed, the Panthers finished on a decisive 7–2 run to secure the set 25–19 and grab a commanding 2–1 advantage.

The fourth set highlighted the team’s depth. Sophomore Samantha Tacorda stepped up with valuable minutes at outside hitter, while junior Corinne Jones protected the net with strong blocks and powerful swings from the right side. Freshman Isabella Garzo-Cuevas orchestrated the offense with crisp setting and contributed key blocks of her own. Their efforts, combined with a balanced team attack, closed out the match 25–19 for the Panthers.

Saint Mary’s walked away with a 3–1 victory (25–19, 15–25, 25–19, 25–19), a result that not only marked a hard-fought road win, but also showcased the resilience and depth of a squad determined to make a statement this season.

Next up, the Panthers head into tournament play at Bishop O’Dowd this Saturday.

Saint Mary’s Volleyball Secures Back-to-Back Wins with Victory Over Marin Academy

Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - The Saint Mary’s Varsity Volleyball team continued its strong start to the season with a statement victory over Marin Academy on Tuesday night. The win marks the Panthers’ second consecutive triumph and their first over Marin Academy in the past four years, breaking a 0-5 stretch that included last season’s NCS quarterfinal matchup.

From the opening serve, the Panthers set the tone. Freshman Kaitlyn Dennis delivered a powerful kill early in the first set, signaling that Saint Mary’s was ready to make a statement. The team maintained control throughout, taking the opening game 25-18.

The second set brought more challenges as Marin Academy rallied to take its first lead of the night at 18-17. Following a well-timed timeout by Coach Martinez, the Panthers regrouped and responded with an impressive 8-2 run to secure the set, 25-20.

With momentum on their side, Saint Mary’s closed out the match in dominant fashion. The Panthers showcased their poise and finishing ability, controlling the third set from start to finish and earning a decisive 25-14 victory.

The straight-set win reflects the growth and resilience of a young team ready to compete at the highest level in the Bay Area’s tough volleyball landscape.

Next up, Saint Mary’s will travel to Oakland to face another strong division opponent, Head-Royce School, on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Come out and support the Panthers as they look to extend their winning streak!

Varsity Girls Volleyball Dominates in Home Opener

Friday, August 28, 2025 - The Saint Mary’s varsity girls volleyball team opened their 2025 season with a statement win on home court, sweeping longtime rival Berkeley in three straight sets: 25–19, 25–23, 25–18.

From the opening serve, the Panthers showcased steady, consistent play and the kind of poise that comes with a strong off-season. With the addition of a talented freshman class, Saint Mary’s brought a new level of energy and depth to the court—something that clearly paid off.

Berkeley, who has had the upper hand over the Panthers in recent seasons, found themselves on the back foot throughout the match. This time, it was Saint Mary’s who controlled possession after possession, refusing to let momentum slip away.

After a confident 25–19 win in Set 1, the Panthers held off a late Berkeley push to edge out a tight second set, 25–23. In the third and final set, Saint Mary’s came out firing, opening on a dominant 12–4 run that set the tone for a 25–18 finish and the sweep.

Head Coach Martinez praised the team's focus and chemistry, highlighting the blend of veteran leadership and youthful talent that powered the win.

Next up, the Panthers will host Marin Academy this Tuesday on Hagler Court. Fans are encouraged to come out and keep the energy high as Saint Mary’s looks to build on their early-season success.