SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Saint Mary's (11-10) avenged their loss to San Francisco (5-11) just four days ago, defeating the Dons 3-2 to open play at the WCC Challenge, before falling to ninth ranked LMU (15-8) 5-0. The win against San Francisco punched the Gaels ticket to the Gold Bracket in Santa Cruz, meaning they are guaranteed no worse than a fourth place finish at the event.

Unlike Monday, the Gaels set the tone early against the Dons. The one pairing of Hawley Harrer and Hannah Couch, and the five pairing of Paola Peralta and Chloe Swanson each won in straight sets in convincing fashion. After the Gaels struggled against the three and four pairings for the Dons, Head Coach Janice Harrer shuffled the deck flipping Karmin Brown and AJ Slojkowski to the three spot and Allie Cataldo and Angie Bour to the fours. Brown and Slojkowski took care of business with a 21-15, 21-15 victory, their first this season against USF, securing the victory for the Gaels. The two and four pairing both needed a decisive third set, with the Dons taking both in the four spot over Cataldo and Bour, and in the two spot against Sedona Sherman and Sadie Shipman. 

Saint Mary's moved on to face ninth ranked LMU after their sweep of Pacific. LMU looked the part of perennial conference favorites, sweeping the Gaels 5-0. Saint Mary's got its best performance from their two pairing of Sadie Shipman and Hannah Glick (making her season debut today). The duo was the only pairing to take a set against the Lions, forcing a third, but eventually falling 15-8. 

The Gaels will square off with the winner of Pepperdine and Santa Clara at 10 AM tomorrow. If they win that match, they will play for the WCC Challenge Title at 2 PM, and if they lose, they will play for third place at 1 PM. 

MATCH ONE: SMC 3 - USF 2
(1) Hawley Harrer/Hannah Couch (SMC) def. Letizia Aquilino/Moorea Wood (USF) 21-9, 21-17
(5) Paola Peralta/Chloe Swanson (SMC) def. Francesca Stanschus/Alina Inzunza (USF) 21-17, 21-8
(3) Karmin Brown/AJ Slojkowski (SMC) def. Branson Lennon/Kaydence Stormes (USF) 21-15, 21-15
(4) Rylie Reeves/Rainie Stevens (USF) def. Allie Cataldo/Angie Bour (SMC) 10-21, 21-19, 15-12
(2) McKenna Towne/Jette Morris (USF) def. Sedona Sherman/Sadie Shipman (SMC) 20-22, 21-19, 15-8

MATCH TWO: LMU 5 - SMC 0
(4) Abbey Thorup/Madi Firnett (LMU) def. Karmin Brown/AJ Slojkowski (SMC) 21-10, 21-9
(5) Cassie Chinn/Chloe Hooker (LMU) def. Paola Peralta/Chloe Swanson (SMC) 21-10, 21-11
(3) Anna Pelloia/Jacinda Ramirez (LMU) def. Allie Cataldo/Angie Bour (SMC) 21-18, 21-15
(1) Vilhelmiina Prihti/Michelle Shaffer (LMU) def. Hawley Harrer/Hannan Couch (SMC) 21-19, 21-18
(2) Isabelle Reffel/Alisha Stevens (LMU) def. Sadie Shipman/Hannah Glick (SMC) 21-14, 19-21, 15-8

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