After a solid 2021 season for the UC Santa Barbara women’s volleyball team, the Gauchos will look to continue their success by winning the 2022 Big West Conference. In 2021, the Gauchos finished in second place with a 21-11 overall record while going 17-3 against conference opponents. 

The Gauchos will look for production from four returners who were on the all-conference team in 2021 to improve their record from last season. These returners are senior middle blocker Deni Wilson,  junior libero Macall Peed, junior outside hitter Michelle Ohwobete and senior right side Tallulah Froley. UCSB also added six new players to their team: freshman outside hitter Sophie Reavis, freshman right side and setter Kimi Waller, freshman middle blocker Grace Wuischpard, freshman defensive specialist Angie Dentoni, freshman defensive specialist Jazmin Nason and freshman right side Julia Shepherd.

The women’s volleyball team began their season on Aug. 20 with an exhibition match against the Loyola Marymount University Lions. Their next match will be on Aug. 26 as they take on the University of Northern Colorado Bears. This match will be their first in a tournament that includes games against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and the Colorado State University Rams. The tournament will be played in Colorado. 

The Gauchos will begin play in the Big West against their conference rival, the UC San Diego Tritons, on Sept. 23 and will have their first home game against the Georgetown University Hoyas on Sept. 16.