Mandy Bible ’07 to Become First Gaels Women’s Volleyball Player to Have Number Retired

Saint Mary's College all-time leading setter Mandy Bible ’07 will have her No. 5 uniform retired and hung in the rafters inside UCU Pavilion. Bible will be the first Saint Mary's Volleyball player in program history to have her number retired. The ceremony honoring her will take place on October 26 ahead the Gaels’ matchup with San Diego, as part of Alumni Weekend. 

“I am extremely proud of this honor, because it belongs to the entire Saint Mary's volleyball family!" said Bible. "Having a volleyball jersey on the wall shows how far this program has come and where it can go. This jersey dedication goes out to all the strong women I shared the court with. Whether it's the Gaels who came before me, with me, or after, this moment belongs to all of them.” 

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Bible’s No. 5 will now hang alongside No. 15 worn by Women’s Basketball great Anja Bordt, and four numbers worn by Gaels Men’s Basketball players: Matthew Dellavedova—No. 4, Patty Mills—No. 13, Tom Meschery—No. 31, and Jock Landale—No. 34.

“The very best”

"Mandy's time at Saint Mary's is a source of great pride for me and for Saint Mary's Volleyball," said Head Coach Rob Browning. "She is arguably the best player to ever don a jersey here, and one of the best assistant coaches I've ever had—and in many ways she has been the very best."

Bible played at Saint Mary's 2003–06 and holds numerous records, including most assists in a single season, best assists per set average in a single season, most career assists, best career assist per set average, and most career service aces. She led the Gaels to three straight NCAA Tournament berths, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2004. She was the first ever three-time All-WCC honoree for Saint Mary's Volleyball, is a member of the Saint Mary's Athletics Hall of Fame, and is the only Gaels Women's Volleyball player in the WCC Hall of Honor. 

After a seven year professional career in Europe, Bible returned to Moraga, serving as an assistant coach for both SMC’s indoor and beach volleyball programs from 2015 to 2021. She was a part of the coaching staff that led the Gaels to the 2018 NCAA Tournament, their most recent trip to volleyball's Big Dance. She also served in a variety of roles within the Saint Mary's Athletic department, including time spent in the Sports Information and Communications department. 

She was the first ever three time All-WCC honoree for Saint Mary's Volleyball, is a member of the Saint Mary's Athletics Hall of Fame, and is the only Gaels Women's Volleyball player in the WCC Hall of Honor. 

Bible said that Saint Mary’s has become a piece of who she is. ”Whether on the court as a player, in the trailer as a SID, or on the bench as an assistant coach, I was pushed, challenged, supported, and guided,” she said. And she singled out Browning for his role. “Thank you for pushing all of us to be better people, while also supporting and accepting us as our true selves. The guidance you have given 20 years of Gaels is intangible." 

Browning—who has also helped coach US volleyball teams to Olympic gold—noted that Bible’s contributions reach well beyond the court. "Everything that Saint Mary's Volleyball stands for, and everything that Saint Mary's College represents, is embodied by Mandy and what she's given the College and SMCVB—from player to staff to assistant coach,” he said. “She has been an enormous blessing to me and my family, an outstanding student-athlete, an inspiration to her teammates, and an ideal role model for the student-athletes she has led here. It is perfectly appropriate that her jersey and name will hang from the rafters of UCU Pavilion for decades to come, but Mandy's legacy extends far beyond the jersey."

Story updated October 14, 2024 at 3 p.m. Pacific.