STANFORD, Calif. — On the road for the first time during the 2020 season, Saint Mary's College Beach Volleyball squared off against another pair of ranked teams, just as they did in their opener. Taking on No. 5 Hawaii and No. 20 Stanford, hosted on the Cardinal campus, the Gaels were able to take one match away from each opponent, but ultimately came up empty in a pair of 4-1 losses, dropping their early-season record to 0-4.
 
The Gaels were able to take the first pairing of the day when the fours finished up first, and Jasmin Suarez and Sienna Young recorded their first win of the 2020 season, sweep the Hawaii pairing 21-11 and 21-17. It wound up being the only pairing that SMC could manage against the fifth-ranked Hawaii squad.
 
RESULTS vs. HAWAII
 
1. Martin/Napoleon (UH) def. Alexsa "Crash" Parker/Selbie Christensen (SMC) 14-21, 11-21
2. Scoles/Hannemann (UH) def. Morgan Kendrick/Karmin Brown (SMC) 16-21, 15-21
3. Ozee/Van Sickle (UH) def. Chandler Cowell/Elena Baka (SMC) 16-21, 15-21
4. Jasmin Suarez/Sienna Young (SMC) def. Loker/Maidment (HI) 21-11, 21-17
5. Hellvig/Huddlesten (HI) def. Kelsey Knudsen/Jennifer "Boo" Laird (SMC) 13-21, 20-22
 
Things got off in a similar fashion in the second contest of the morning, as the Gaels dropped the first two pairings before getting one back in the third pair to finish. Kelsey Knudsen and Jennifer "Boo" Laird were able to get their first win of the year after sweeping their foes in the fives. Things could have tilted the way of the Gaels had they come up winners in the threes and fours, but a pair of tough losses in three sets wound up giving Stanford the 4-1 victory.
 
RESULTS vs. STANFORD
 
1. Ekstrom/Villapando (STAN) def. Morgan Kendrick/Karmin Brown (SMC) 12-21, 18-21
2. Kriz/Ashkinos (STAN) def. Alexsa "Crash" Parker/Selbie Christensen (SMC) 17-21, 13-21
3. Dailey/Smith (STAN) def. Jasmin Suarez/Sienna Young (SMC) 18-21, 21-18, 9-15
4. Richardson/Sharp (STAN) def. Chandler Cowell/Elena Baka (SMC) 21-16, 22-24, 12-15
5. Kelsey Knudsen/Jennifer "Boo" Laird (SMC) def. Red-Horse Mohl/Berty (STAN) 21-15, 21-16
 
The Gaels will be back in action on the road next Saturday as they search for their first win in the WCC/Big West Challenge, which will feature a triple-header for Saint Mary's. The Gaels will compete in three-consecutive matches against Sacramento State, CSU Bakersfield, and CSUN starting at 10:00 am.
 
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