BERKELEY, Calif. — In their first matches of the 2024 campaign, Saint Mary's Volleyball (1-1) split their two contests, falling to #8 Cal (4-0) 5-0, before defeating Santa Clara (0-2) 3-1.
The Gaels were tested early by the Golden Bears, who finished the 2023 season ranked 11th in the country, and shot up to eighth in the 2024 preseason polls. Despite falling to Cal, this was an excellent early test for a Saint Mary's squad that is looking to grow and build on success throughout the season. The Gaels fifth flight, the duo of Paola Peralta and Nya Crump, managed to take a set off the Golden Bears' Ella Sears and Kendall Peters, before ultimately falling 15-12 in the decisive third set. Allie Catalado and Angie Bour, the Gaels number three pairing, also battled valiantly, falling to Cal's Lara Boos and Brooke Buchner 21-19, 21-16.
Match two featured the Gaels WCC rivals, the Santa Clara Broncos. A season ago, the Gaels were eliminated by the Broncos from postseason play, but were able to avenge last season's finale with a 3-1 victory in 2024. The Gaels top two teams dominated the Broncos, with Sedona Sherman and Sadie Shipman sweeping the first flight 21-17, 21-13, and Hawley Harrer and Hannah Couch sweeping the second flight 21-14, 21-18. Look for these two pairings to give fits to opposing teams all season long.
The Gaels will be back in action next weekend, as they head to Stanford for a four match weekend, taking on the likes of San Jose State, UC Davis, TCU and Oregon, all starting at 8 AM on March 1.
MATCH ONE: #8 Cal 5 - SMC 0
(3) Lara Boos/Brooke Buchner (Cal) defeated Allie Cataldo/Angie Bour (SMC) 21-19, 21-16
(5) Ella Sears/Kendall Peters (Cal) defeated Paola Peralted/Nya Crump (SMC) 21-12, 22-24, 15-12
(1) Emma Donley/Alexandria Young (Cal) defeated Sedona Sherman/Sadie Shipman (SMC) 21-10, 21-13
(4) Portia Sherman/Ella Dreibholtz (Cal) defeated Karmin Brown/AJ Slojkowski (SMC) 21-11, 21-17
(2) Marilu Pally/Gia Fisher (Cal) defeated Hawley Harrer/Hannah Couch (SMC) 21-17, 21-9
MATCH TWO: SMC 4 - SCU 1
(1) Sedona Sherman/Sadie Shipman (SMC) defeated Katie Kishton/Elena Radeff (SCU) 21-17, 21-13
(3) Allie Cataldo/Angie Bour (SMC) defeated Casey Campbell/Sveva Minneke (SCU) 22-20, 21-11
(5) Alexie Epstein/Alexia Gallegos (SCU) defeated Paola Peralta/Nya Crump (SMC) 11-21, 21-18, 22-20
(2) Hawley Harrer/Hannah Couch (SMC) defeated Ella Duffner/Noelle Niederman (SCU) 21-14, 21-18
(4)
Karmin Brown/
AJ Slojkowski (SMC) defeated Jodan Bennett/Hailey Benesz (SCU) 21-15, 28-30, 15-7
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