SAN JOSE, Calif. — On a sun splashed, picturesque day at Spartan Beach on the campus of San Jose State University, the Saint Mary's Gaels (8-6) split a pair of decisions to the Sacramento State Hornets (5-7) and Utah Utes (7-7), defeating the Hornets 4-1 before falling to the Utes 3-2.

The early 9 AM match between the Gaels and Hornets opened with the four and five flights splitting to get things started. Karmin Brown and AJ Slojkowski looked dominant in a 21-15, 21-13 victory out of the four slot. Hawley Harrer and Hannah Couch made quick work in the two spot with a 21-15, 21-17 decision, leaving the Gaels in need of just one win from either their one or three flight. Both groups answered the bell, first with Allie Catalado and Angie Bour winning 21-18, 21-14, then with Sedona Sherman and Sadie Shipman battling back from dropping the first set 21-15 to win the next two 21-18, 15-12 en route to the 4-0 decision. 

The second match of the day for the Gaels featured the Utah Utes, and came down to the wire. In deja vu fashion, Brown and Slojkowski opened up with a win and the opponent, this time the Utes, responded and won five flight. The Gaels strongest duo this season of Cataldo and Bour picked up their 12th win of the season, with the Gaels needing just one win from either their first or second flight to secure their second consecutive victory. Both pairs forced a third set, but each dropped heartbreakers in the final set, 15-13 for Harrer/Couch and 15-12 for Sherman/Shipman, as the Gaels fell to the Utes 3-2. 

Saint Mary's will be back in action tomorrow, taking on San Jose State (9 AM) and Sierra College (12 PM) on day two of the Sand Jose Invitational. 

MATCH ONE: SMC 4, Sac State 1
(4) Karmin Brown/AJ Slojkowski (SMC) def. Ashlynn Archer/Amy McCarthy (SAC) 21-15, 21-13
(5) Tiya Kamba-Griffin/Abbey Kadillak (SAC) def. Nya Crump/Paola Peralta (SMC) 21-15, 21-18
(2) Hawley Harrer/Hannah Couch (SMC) def. Greta Davis/Caitlin Volkmann (SAC) 21-15, 21-17
(3) Allie Catldo/Angie Bour (SMC) def. Karlee Soderberg/Mia Guevara (SAC) 21-18, 21-14
(1) Sedona Sherman/Sadie Shipman (SMC) def. Kalani Hayes/Ellie Tisko (SAC) 15-21, 21-18, 15-12

MATCH TWO: Utah 3, SMC 2
(4) Karmin Brown/AJ Slojkowski (SMC) def. Kylie Pitzak/Marissa Koch (UU) 21-18, 21-10
(5) Sonja Wessel/Milan Ray (UU) def. Nya Crump/Paola Peralta (SMC) 21-16, 21-18
(3) Allie Catldo/Angie Bour (SMC) def. Chloe Narancich/Lauren Sayre (UU) 21-12, 21-19
(2) Rylee Johnson/Bella Vezzani (UU) def. Hawley Harrer/Hannah Couch (SMC) 21-16, 17-21, 15-13
(1) Langley Griffin/Katie McAlister (UU) def. Sedona Sherman/Sadie Shipman (SMC) 19-21, 21-15, 15-12

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