STANFORD, Calif. — The Saint Mary's Gaels (3-3) kicked off week two of the season with a brilliant come from behind performance to defeat the Sacramento State Hornets (1-4), 3-2. They followed that up with a battle against the fifth ranked Stanford Cardinal (5-3), who unfortunately pushed their 5-0 game streak to four in a row on the season with a sweep of the Gaels. 

The Gaels found themselves with their backs against the wall early against Sacramento State. The Hornets made quick work of the Gaels twos, and Genevieve Bane and Renee Nachtigall took a marathon set one at the fours, 31-29, but ultimately dropped the next two sets 21-19 and 15-13 as the Gaels were instantly in a 2-0 hole. That said, the 1, 3 and 5 pairs for the Gaels played nearly flawless volleyball, as Saint Mary's would not drop a set in any of those three matchups, earning the reverse sweep victory. Delaney Nicholls and Grace Travis got things going at the fives with a quick 21-12, 21-14 W to move to 3-2 while playing together. That was followed by the Gaels most consistent pairing this year, the veteran duo of Allie Cataldo and Hannah Couch, who moved to 4-1 on the young campaign with a 21-13, 21-17 victory. Closing things out at the threes, Angelina Bour and Sedona Sherman were dominant to close things out, 21-10, 21-13, as they notched their first win playing together in three tries. With the win, the Gaels remained a perfect 14-0 all-time vs Sacramento State.

Next up for the Gaels was the very formidable fifth ranked Stanford Cardinal. The Cardinal had not given up a point in three straight matches coming into this one, and made it four straight against the Gaels. Hannah Glick made her season debut, playing alongside Genevieve Bane at the fours, as the duo put up a valiant effort, falling to the Cardinal four pair, 21-15, 21-16. The tightest contest was between the ones, as Hannah Couch and Allie Cataldo fought tooth and nail to stay tight with one of the best pairings in the country, falling 21-18, 21-18. The Cardinal have now won each of their last 12 meetings against the Gaels. 

Tomorrow the Gaels will go to site two of the Battle of the Bay, Spartan Beach in San Jose, to take on San Jose State at 10 AM and UC Davis at 12 PM.

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