UCSB Men’s Volleyball stunned UC San Diego on Friday, March 6, pushing the Tritons to five sets. 

Courtesy of UCSB Athletics

Playing their first Big West Conference match of the season, UCSB set the tone for the season ahead with a powerful match. 

Off to a great start, the Gauchos sat comfortably at a 4-1 lead. But soon the Tritons gained momentum with a 4-point winning streak, which ended in a service error and a tie at 6-6. Exchanging points, the Gauchos fought back, leading 13-10. Trading blows for the rest of the set, UCSB held on and finished with a bang at 25-22. Notably, junior setter Cole Schobel scored the winning point, with a kill. With a great start, sophomore outside hitter Ethan Saint contributed with 4 kills in the first set. 

Leading 1-0 in the second set, San Diego retaliates, winning the second set 25-21. Unable to continue the momentum, theGauchos faltered coming back to tie the game at 15-15 and 20-20, but were unable to hold on with San Diego predominantly leading the second set. San Diego closed it out with a 4-0 run. 

Gaining traction from the second set, San Diego continued to dominate, winning the third set 25-21. With an early lead by the Gauchos at 8-3, attack errors were their downfall, unable to close the set, leading 21-20 before San Diego took over the lead. 

With elimination near, the Gauchos came back in the fourth set winning 25-20. Ahead for most of the set, freshman middle blocker Dylan Pilkvist contributed with three consecutive aces, leading the team 14-7. With the match ongoing, the Tritons gained momentum, leading 22-20. Fighting forward, the Gauchos pulled out the win with an ace by sophomore outside hitter Riggs Guy. 

With the victory on the line, the Gauchos pushed the Tritons to a fifth set. Falling behind, the Tritons led 4-1. The Gauchos rallied from a kill by redshirt sophomore outside hitter George Bruening to tie the set at 4-4. Tied again at 6-6, the Gauchos gained momentum with an ace by Bruening and a kill by Schobel, leading 9-7. On a streak, Saint produced two aces, Gauchos up at 11-7. With more power from the Gauchos, they finished strong with Bruening’s kill, finishing the match at 15-11. 

In an exciting victory, three Gauchos led in double-digit kills: Bruening with 18 kills, Saint with 12 and Guy with 10. Notably, Guy led with 8 digs and 5 aces. Blocks also supported this win with 5 by redshirt freshman middle blocker Mikey Denver.