BVB | Saint Mary’s Outlasts Santa Clara on Home Sand

Wednesday, April 20

Moraga, CA

4:00 pm

Saint Mary's College of California

Santa Clara

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

BVB | Saint Mary’s Outlasts Santa Clara on Home Sand

4/20/2022 7:15:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's Beach Volleyball knew the stakes were high heading into Wednesday's home match against Santa Clara. After losing to the Broncos last week, the winner of this match has the inside path to the number three seed in the WCC standings. It took nearly three hours to decide, but Saint Mary's prevailed at home with a 4-1 victory despite several thrilling matches. SMC is now 14-12 and more importantly, 8-3 in WCC games.

The afternoon began under sunny skies with the Gaels dropping the opening match in three sets, with Julia Sangiacomo and Michelle Shaffer beating Chandler Cowell and Selbie Christensen 21-11, 15-21, and 15-11. Another three-set match went the way of Saint Mary's in the fours, as they were able to hang on and win the first set 23-21, and then survive the final set with a 15-10 win to even things up at 1-1 overall.

The skies then became full of clouds and the weather got a bit colder as the Gaels won another three-setter, this time in the twos, as Jasmin Suarez and Jennifer "Boo" Laird came back after losing the first set and winning the final two 21-18 and 15-9. With that win in tow, it was time for Saint Mary's to take the match.

Ella Sandt and Genevieve Bane clinched it for the Gaels with another comeback victory that required three sets to pull it off. After dropping the opening set, the Gaels fives found their footing, winning 21-12 and 15-9 to secure a team win for SMC. For good measure, Karmin Bronwn and Makenna Joyce took care of business in the threes as the only pair to win in two sets on Wednesday, doing so with tight wins of 21-17 and 23-21.

RESULTS
(1) Julia Sangiacomo/Michelle Shaffer (SCU) def. Chandler Cowell/Selbie Christensen (SMC) 21-11, 15-21, 15-11
(4) Aeriel Sundt/Hawley Harrer (SMC) def. Sophia Tulino/Claire Doud (SCU) 23-21, 17-21, 15-10
(2) Jasmin Suarez/Jennifer "Boo" Laird (SMC) def. Elena Radeff/Alexie Epstein (SCU) 19-21, 21-18, 15-9
(5) Ella Sandt/Genevieve Bane (SMC) def. Jordan Bennett/Alexia Gallegos (SCU) 15-21, 21-12, 15-9
(3) Makenna Joyce/Karmin Brown (SMC) def. Alexia Inman/Casey Campbell (SCU) 21-17, 23-21
(6) Megan Chandler/Trinity Durfee (SMC) vs. Nicole Robison/Elyse Erickson (SCU) 21-23, 21-10 (unfinished exhibition)

UP NEXT
Saint Mary's turns around and hosts San Francisco on Thursday, April 21 at 4:00 pm for the final home game of the beach season. The Gaels and Dons will meet for the fourth time this season, with Saint Mary's winning the first three. SMC has not lost to the Dons on the beach since the 2016 season, and they hold a 21-2 record all-time against USF. Thursday will also be Senior Day for Saint Mary's.

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