SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Saint Mary's Beach Volleyball (14-13) moved their record back above 0.500 for the season, defeating both conference foe Santa Clara (12-13) and host Sacramento State (6-16) as part of the Sac Beach Invite. The Gaels made quick work of the Broncos by a 4-1 tally, dropping only the final point, and took a 3-1 lead to lock up the victory over the Hornets before dropping the final point in that one. The Gaels are now on their third three game winning streak of the season. 

The Broncos of Santa Clara mustered up little fight against the Gaels. At the twos, Clarissa Klein and Chloe Swanson opened the day of play with a 22-20, 21-12 victory for their first win paired together this season, followed shortly thereafter by 21-17, 21-13 victory by Hannah Glick and Sedona Sherman in the four spot. The hottest Gael duo as of late, Angelina Bour and Nya Crump polished off the victory with a 21-19, 21-18 win at the threes, and Allie Cataldo and Hannah Couch picked up the two set win despite a strong fight from the Broncos at the ones, 21-19, 22-20. Grace Travis and Renee Nachtigall battled hard in the fives, looking to pick up the 5-0 win, but dropped a narrow 15-13 third set, bringing the match score to a final tally of 4-1. The Gaels have now won six consecutive matches against the Broncos dating back to last season, and are 6-2 against WCC foes. 

Host Sacramento State hung tough with the Gaels as long as they could, but the Gaels eventually salted away their second 3-2 victory over the Hornets in as many meetings this season. Sedona Sherman and Hannah Glick got things started with a quick 21-14, 21-13 win at the fours, but the Hornets responded with a win of their own at the twos. Crump and Bour moved their winning streak while playing together to five in a row with a 21-7, 21-17 win at the threes, and Renee Nachtigall and Grace Travis avenged their loss from earlier in the day by clinching the match with a 21-16, 21-19 victory. The Gael ones would fall to end the match, but Saint Mary's had already secured their 15th straight win over Sacramento State. 

The Gaels polished off their weekend split in Berkeley and Sacramento with a 3-1 record. Angelina Bour and Nya Crump went a perfect 4-0 from the three spot, moving their record to 10-6 when playing together this season. Their nine wins at the three together is eighth best in program history. Bour specifically has picked up 27 wins in the three spot throughout her three year Gaels career, tied for fourth most by an individual player at the three all time. With two matches played today, Allie Cataldo has now played in 100 matches in her SMC career, making her just the seventh ever Gael to appear in that many matches. 

The Gaels will next head to Boise for matches against Portland, Cal State Bakersfield, Colorado Mesa and Boise State next Friday and Saturday.

#GaelsRise