MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's beach volleyball returned to its home courts on Thursday for an all-day affair that began in the morning and ended in the early evening. They played twice on the day, squaring off against San Jose State first and then Sacramento State later. The Gaels built off of their win against the Hornets last weekend by winning both on the day, 4-1 over SJSU and 4-1 over Sacramento State. The Gaels are now 11-14 on the season with six matches left in the regular season.
 
Match 1: Saint Mary's 4, San Jose State 1
 
The wins started coming for the Gaels in the fives, when Angie Bour and Hannah Glick won the second time together this season. They gave up the first four points in the first set, but had plenty of time to come back and cruise to a win. In the second set, they won the final nine points after trailing 13-12 to win 21-13 and close out the sweep.
 
Karmin Brown and Hannah Couch got it going in the threes after a close call in the first set. They led 20-16, but Nayeli Tia and Tessa Rogers came storming back to get the next five points to take a 21-20 lead and put the Gaels' backs against the wall. Brown and Couch then won the next three points and crushed SJSU in the second set 21-7 to win and put the Gaels up 2-1 in the overall team score.
 
Hawley Harrer and Daniella Kensinger wrapped up the win for the Gaels, in part, thanks to a dominant first set as the top flight. They won 21-9, never letting the Spartans get close from the get-go. The second set was a bit tighter throughout, but they prevailed 21-19 to wrap up the win. Meanwhile, Sadie Shipman and Genevieve Bane were coming back in the twos after dropping the first set. They won 21-15 and 15-11 in the final two sets to wrap up the first match and nail down the 4-1 decision.
 
RESULTS
(4) Teila Allen/Blaire Flemming (SJSU) def. Allie Cataldo/Paola Peralta (SMC) 21-13, 21-10
(5) Angie Bour/Hannah Glick (SMC) def. Meredith Scott/Isabelle Sistek (SJSU) 21-15, 21-13
(3) Karmin Brown/Hannah Couch (SMC) def. Nayeli Tia/Tessa Rogers (SJSU) 23-21, 21-7
(1) Hawley Harrer/Daniella Kensinger (SMC) def. Jaida Ward/Cheyenne Rice (SJSU) 21-9, 21-19
(2) Genevieve Bane/Sadie Shipman (SMC) def. Siena Brewster/Amethyst Harper (SJSU) 18-21, 21-15, 15-11
 
Match 2: Saint Mary's 4, Sacramento State 1
 
Allie Cataldo and Paola Peralta got back on track in a big way to start the match with Sacramento State. After losing to San Jose State, they came out and won 21-11 in the first set, putting their morning match behind them, and closed it out with a 21-16 win in set two. Meanwhile on the other court, Angie Bour and Hannah Glick won for the second time on the day, with scores of 21-14 and 21-19 to put the Gaels in a great spot early on.
 
The clincher came in the threes from Karmin Brown and Hannah Couch, but they had to fight to get there. They dropped their opening set 21-18 before roaring back in the second set, using a huge run in the middle to explode to a 21-13 win, setting up the decisive set. In that third set, they emerged victorious with a 15-11 win to secure the win, the second on the day for the Gaels.
 
RESULTS
(4) Allie Cataldo/Paola Peralta (SMC) def. Ashlynn Archer/Carrie Crom (SAC) 21-11, 21-16
(5) Angie Bour/Hannah Glick (SMC) def. Caty Cordano/Hailey Plugge (SAC) 21-14, 21-19
(3) Karmin Brown/Hannah Couch (SMC) def. Greta Davis/Tiya Kamba-Griffin (SAC) 18-21, 21-13, 15-11
(2) Caitlin Volkmann/Ellie Tisko (SAC) def. Genevieve Bane/Sadie Shipman (SMC) 23-21, 21-17
(1) Hawley Harrer/Daniella Kensinger (SMC) def. Kalani Hayes/Bridgette Smith (SAC) 21-17, 21-18
(6) Cameron Martinez/Grace Travis (SMC) tied Abbey Kadillak/Savannah Risley (SAC) 15-21, 21-13 (exhibition)
 
UP NEXT
The week at home continues on Saturday with two more beach matches at the home courts on campus. Saint Mary's will take on #9 Cal at 10:00 am on Saturday morning before hosting Cabrillo College at 1:00 pm to conclude the doubleheader. These are the penultimate home matches on the year for SMC, with their Senior Day against Sierra College set for next Saturday against Sierra College.