Friday, February 20
Houston, TX
7:00 AM
Saint Mary's College of California
3
vs
2
Southern Miss
Isla Johnson and Hannah Couch Provided the Clinching Point in the Gaels Win Over Southern Miss
BVB | Gaels Open Season with Split on Day One of the Third Coast Challenge
2/20/2026 1:35:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
HOUSTON — Saint Mary's Beach Volleyball wasted no time notching win number one of 2026, defeating Southern Miss 3-2 in their morning matchup in the Third Coast Challenge, before falling to third ranked Cal Poly 5-0 in their afternoon contest. Despite a relatively new squad, the Gaels looked comfortable playing together in their first two matches of the campaign.
MATCH ONE: SMC 3 - Southern MIss 2
After falling behind 1-0 in the early going, Saint Mary's rattled off three straight victories to secure their first win of 2026 and their first win in program history over the Golden Eagles. The fourth flight, and only Gael pairing to feature two newcomers, Alisia Silverthorn and Annah Legaspi, put Saint Mary's on the board first, needing extra points to decide a thrilling first set, 17-15. There was much less drama in the fifth and third flights, as the duos of Hannah Glick/Barett Nolan and Isla Johnson/Hannah Couch rattled off identical 21-18, 21-13 scores to secure the victory for the Gaels. The win was Couch's 60th career victory, moving her to seventh all-time in program history. She needs just three more wins to move into the top-five.
MATCH TWO: SMC 0 - No. 3 Cal Poly 5
The Gaels battled valiantly, but ultimately fell to the third ranked team in the country, the Cal Poly Mustangs, 5-0. Clarissa Klein made her season debut after missing the latter part of indoor season with a lower body injury, and paired with Hannah Glick for the tightest contest of the match, forcing bonus points in the second set before ultimately falling, 5-0.
Saint Mary's will play two more tomorrow in Houston, taking on host Houston Christian at 7 AM PST and Tarleton State at 11 AM PST.
#GaelsRise
MATCH ONE: SMC 3 - Southern MIss 2
After falling behind 1-0 in the early going, Saint Mary's rattled off three straight victories to secure their first win of 2026 and their first win in program history over the Golden Eagles. The fourth flight, and only Gael pairing to feature two newcomers, Alisia Silverthorn and Annah Legaspi, put Saint Mary's on the board first, needing extra points to decide a thrilling first set, 17-15. There was much less drama in the fifth and third flights, as the duos of Hannah Glick/Barett Nolan and Isla Johnson/Hannah Couch rattled off identical 21-18, 21-13 scores to secure the victory for the Gaels. The win was Couch's 60th career victory, moving her to seventh all-time in program history. She needs just three more wins to move into the top-five.
MATCH TWO: SMC 0 - No. 3 Cal Poly 5
The Gaels battled valiantly, but ultimately fell to the third ranked team in the country, the Cal Poly Mustangs, 5-0. Clarissa Klein made her season debut after missing the latter part of indoor season with a lower body injury, and paired with Hannah Glick for the tightest contest of the match, forcing bonus points in the second set before ultimately falling, 5-0.
Saint Mary's will play two more tomorrow in Houston, taking on host Houston Christian at 7 AM PST and Tarleton State at 11 AM PST.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
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Friday, February 20
WBB | Saint Mary's at Santa Clara Highlights, 2-19-26
Thursday, February 19
MBB | Saint Mary's at Seattle U, 2-18-26
Wednesday, February 18
WBB | Jeff Cammon Postgame Interview vs. Seattle U, 2-16-26
Monday, February 16
