SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — In Pool B of the 2025 West Coast Challenge, Saint Mary's (10-11) split their two matches against Portland (2-6) and RV Pepperdine (10-7), defeating the Pilots 4-1 before being swept by the Waves 5-0. The 0.500 day was good enough to move the Gaels to the Gold Bracket tomorrow that will also feature the Waves, 3rd ranked LMU Lions and San Francisco Dons. 

The day started with a 4-1 victory for the Gaels over the Portland Pilots, a match in which the Gaels took care of business early, winning each of the first three points. After appearing in 18 matches a year ago for the University of New Orleans, Stephanie Gonzalez made her season debut for the Gaels, paired with Sedona Sherman. The duo started the Gaels on the right foot with a straight set win at the fours. Nya Crump and Angelina Bour kept their hot streak going with their third straight win at the threes, and Hannah Couch and Allie Cataldo picked up their 14th win of the season at the ones to secure the win for the Gaels. For good measure, after the Gaels dropped the twos match, Genevieve Bane and Grace Travis made quick work in the fives with a 21-6, 21-9 victory to end the morning with a bang!

Match two wasn't quite as successful for the Gaels, as they were swept by a very solid Pepperdine team. Saint Mary's dropped the fives early, while Cataldo/Couch played to a tight 22-20 decision in set one of the ones, but dropped set two 21-8. Clarissa Klein and Chloe Swanson made things interesting at the twos with a 21-19 first set, but dropped the second set by a 21-16 margin, locking down the W for the Waves. Both the threes (Bour/Crump) and the fours (Sherman/Glick) were extremely tight, but both went in straight sets the way of the Waves to earn the sweep victory. 

The Gaels will play in the Gold Bracket tomorrow, opening with defending WCC Champs LMU. A win will move them on to play the winner of Pepperdine and USF, and a loss would see them play the loser of that matchup.

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