SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Saint Mary's Gaels (20-15) took care of business with a 4-1 victory over sixth seeded Portland (5-16), punching their ticket to play tomorrow on Championship Friday, before narrowly falling to second seeded Pepperdine (19-13) 3-2. The Gaels moved to 20 wins for the first time since 2019, tying their largest win total in program history. 

The day started their day with their third 4-1 victory over Portland this season. Allie Cataldo and Hannah Couch dropped a marathon first set 25-23, but responded with quick set two and three victories 21-12 and 15-7 to push Saint Mary's ahead early 1-0. Portland's twos responded with a three set win to level the match at a game apiece. Saint Mary's then went on to dominate the six sets of the threes, fours and five. Hannah Glick and Sedona Sherman got things rolling with a 21-7, 21-12 victory at the fours to regain the lead for the Gaels. Angelina Bour and Nya Crump clinched the match with a 21-10, 21-11 win, and, for good measure, Grave Travis and Genevieve Bane took the five point, 21-9, 21-10. 

Matching up with second seeded Pepperdine, one of just two WCC foes with a victory over the Gaels this season, Saint Mary's lost in a narrow 3-2 decision. Clarissa Klein and Chloe Swanson got things going with a three set victory, but Pepperdine would pick up victories in the next three matches, securing the 3-1 win. Giving Saint Mary's momentum going into tomorrow, Genevieve Bane and Grace Travis picked up a win at the fives to move to 2-0 for the day, the only Gael pair to win both for the day. 

The Gaels will play again tomorrow at 11 AM, taking on the winner of Santa Clara and San Francisco. The Gaels are unbeaten against their two Bay Area WCC rivals this season. A win in that match would move SMC onto the WCC Semis for the second consecutive year. A win will also give Saint Mary's a new program record for wins in a single season. 

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