STANFORD, Calif. — Back on the sands of the Stanford Beach Volleyball Stadium for the second time this year, the Saint Mary's Gaels (7-8) fell in a pair of neutral site contests against the Islanders of RV Texas A&M - Corpus Christi (7-5) and the Utes of Utah (10-3). While the Gaels went winless on the day, they took at least a point in each of the two matches, making it nine straight matches taking at least one point, matching their longest streak last season.
The day began with the Islanders, and saw the Gaels shake up their two and three pairings, shifting Sarah Incitti into the two slot with Chloe Swanson, and moving Nya Crump to the threes to play alongside Angelina Bour. Incitti and Swanson dropped the opening point, but Genevieve Bane and Hannah Glick responded by taking a three setter at the fours to knot things up. After the Islanders took the point from the fives, it came down to the Gaels one pairing of Allie Cataldo and Hannah Couch and the three pairing of Bour and Crump, both needing wins to earn the W for the Gaels. Both matches went down to the third set, and while Bour and Crump took their point winning the third 15-9, Cataldo and Couch narrowly fell 19-21, 21-19, 15-13 to preserve the victory for the Islanders.
The second match of the day wasn't quite as close. Another wrinkle in the lineup saw Clarissa Klein start at the twos with Swanson, but the Gaels, this time, fell into a 2-0 hole, as the Utes took the twos and fours points. Allie Cataldo and Hannah Couch picked up a straight set victory at the ones to once again put the Gaels back within striking distance, and while Delaney Nicholls and Grace Travis at the five and Angelina Bour and Nya Crump at the threes both forced a third set, both ultimately dropped that set, bringing the final scoreline to 4-1 in favor of the Utes.
Cataldo/Couch, Crump/Bour and Glick/Bane all went 1-1 for the day for the Gaels. The most successful pairing for the Gaels all season, Cataldo/Couch are now 11-4 from the one spot this year. The Gaels will be back at it tomorrow at Stanford, taking on the Utes for a rematch at noon, and the host #5 Cardinal at 2 PM.
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