LONG BEACH, Calif. – In a tuneup match for the West Coast Conference Beach Volleyball Championships, No. 19 Saint Mary's squared off with No. 10 Long Beach State. The Gaels snagged a victory in the No. 4 position, but ultimately fell by the score of 4-1.
 
Sophomore Jennifer "Boo" Laird and freshman Chandler Cowell were the sole SMC duo to come away victorious on Tuesday as they defeated their adversary in three sets. The pair initially lost the opening set 21-17, but came back with a 21-17 second and a tightly-contested third (15-13). Seniors Lindsey Knudsen and Sarah Chase nearly forced a decisive third set as well as they dropped the second by only two points (21-19).
 
The loss snapped a four-match win streak, but the Gaels will look to respond with a strong showing in the WCC Championship which begins April 19 in Santa Monica. 
 
RESULTS 
 
#10 Long Beach State 4, #19 Saint Mary's 1 
1. Nicci Reinking/Zoi Konstantopoulou (LBSU) def. Lindsey Knudsen/Sarah Chase (SMC) 21-12, 21-19 
2. Megan Kruidhof/Mari Molina (LBSU) def. Lindsey Calvin/Emily Bible (SMC) 21-8, 21-13 
3. Kendra Koelsch/Kenzie Holtz (LBSU) def. Sienna Young/Alexsa "Crash" Parker (SMC) 21-14, 21-16 
4. Jennifer "Boo" Laird/Chandler Cowell (SMC) def. Claire Newlander/Sydney Stevens (LBSU) 17-21, 21-17, 15-13 
5. Tyler Spriggs/Alexis Patterson (LBSU) def. Morgan Kendrick/Selbie Christensen (SMC) 21-9, 21-16