SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Gaels (20-16) best season under third year Head Coach Janice Harrer came to an end today, as Saint Mary's fell to Santa Clara (16-17) two matches shy of the WCC Title Game, 3-1. The Gaels and Broncos met up two times in the regular season, with the Gaels winning both of those battles by 4-1 scorelines, however, the Broncos finished out on top in the postseason matchup, and will go on to take on Pepperdine in the semis later today.
Things got started on the right foot with a quick sweep at the fours for Sedona Sherman and Hannah Glick. Sherman and Glick proved to be an excellent pairing all season long for the Gaels, going 9-4 on the season including today's victory. The Broncos leveled things at one apiece, taking the threes by the narrowest of margins, 21-19, 24-22. Angelina Bour and Nya Crump served to force a third set multiple times in set two, but couldn't get the final point they needed to stave off the sweep. Around this time, the ones, twos and fives all entered a third set, setting this matchup for a thrilling finish. Genevieve Bane and Grace Travis, who went unbeaten a day ago, dropped a marathon first set, 25-23, but responded with a 21-13 thrashing in set two. The third was tight, but a late long service run from the Broncos pushed them ahead 2-1 in the match with a 15-11 set three win. Clarissa Klein and Chloe Swanson came from behind in set two 22-20 to level things up at a set apiece, but the twos from SCU took command from the get go in the third, and while Klein and Swanson battled valiantly, they also ultimately fell 15-11 in the third, ending the match. On the ones, Allie Cataldo and Hannah Couch led 13-12 in the third when the match was halted.
The Gaels season comes to an end with 20 wins for just the second time in program history. In just her third year at the helm, Head Coach Janice Harrer has become the winningest coach in program history with 54 victories in the last three seasons. Allie Cataldo and Hannah Couch paced the Gaels at the ones this season with a 24-11 record. Their 24 wins in a single season ties for the most by a pair in a single season with Lindsey Knudsen and Payton Rund in 2017, and Lindsey Knudsen and Sarah Chase in 2019. Angelina Bour and Nya Crump also had a spectacular season together, going 16-9 for the year.
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