Matt Connolly

January 26, 2009

Matadors Tuff Santa Barbara

By Matt Connolly

The odds were stacked against the Gauchos going up against the #2 ranked team in the nation, and Cal State Northridge (6-0 overall, 3-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) did not disappoint in their first game in...

January 22, 2009

Gauchos Migrate North

By Matt Connolly

With the majority of Big West squads jockeying for position atop conference standings as they head towards the midway point of the season, the men's basketball team (8-9 overall, 2-3 in the Big West) will try to build a...

January 20, 2009

UCLA Skates Past Gauchos

By Matt Connolly

Gaucho sophomore outside hitter Jeff Menzel posted a match high in kills with 24 on a season high .419 attack percentage, but #8 UCLA (2-3 overall, 1-1 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) held down the home court,...

January 14, 2009

Gauchos Look to Herd ‘Eaters

By Matt Connolly

A rejuvenated Gaucho lineup made a statement in the Elephant Bar Invitational this past weekend, laying a 3-0 shutout on #4 Long Beach State to take third in the tournament. National polls took notice, bumping up Santa B...

January 13, 2009

He Said, He Said

By Matt Connolly

American Football Conference Championship Four years ago, Ben Roethlisberger had a magical rookie season, going 13-0 in the regular season before leading his team to the AFC Championship game. Unfortunately for Big Ben, ...

January 12, 2009

SB Sweeps Long Beach

By Matt Connolly

They may not have won the tournament, but finishing third in a group of eight of the top teams in the nation was definitely a great way to kick off the 2009 season for UCSB men's volleyball.

January 8, 2009

SB Hopes to Trample Through Foes at Elephant Bar Invitational

By Matt Connolly

There are plenty of new developments with the men's volleyball team as it enters the 2009 season.

January 7, 2009

Big West Preview — Long Beach State

By Matt Connolly

What a difference a year can make. After finishing eighth in the Big West last season with an atrocious 6-25 overall record including only three wins in conference, a much improved Long Beach State team (7-7 overall, 2-0...

January 6, 2009

Big West Preview — UC Davis

By Matt Connolly

A year ago, the Aggies (4-7) were the figurative new kids on the block, playing in their first season as official members of the Big West. Using a lineup stacked with veteran players itching to play with a championship o...

January 5, 2009

Gauchos Lose Twice in Conference

By Matt Connolly

Unfortunately for James Powell and UCSB (6-8 overall, 0-2 in the Big West), this shot from beyond the arc was released just a second after the end of regulation and was waived off, giving the Gauchos a heartbreaking 71-6...

May 30, 2008

Gaucho Athletics Remain Atop Big West

By Matt Connolly

For the second consecutive year - and seventh time since the award's inception in 1998 - UC Santa Barbara has been awarded the Big West Conference Commissioner's Cup. The Cup is presented to the institution with the best...

May 30, 2008

New Equestrian Club Gets Set to Saddle-Up

By Matt Connolly

Giddy-up! The upcoming school year will see UC Santa Barbara add yet another option to its already impressive list of club sports - horseback riding.

May 27, 2008

‘Eaters Dash Gaucho Playoff Aspirations

By Matt Connolly

The final out made by UC Santa Barbara baseball in 2008 truly embodied its successful yet ultimately unsatisfying season. Down 2-0 with a runner on in the top of the ninth inning, junior catcher Chris McMurray would turn...

May 23, 2008

SB Playoff Hopes Ride on Weekend Trip

By Matt Connolly

After sweeping reigning Big West champion UC Riverside last weekend at home to keep their postseason hopes alive, the UCSB baseball team (34-19 overall, 13-8 in the Big West) will depart to Irvine this weekend to take on...

May 22, 2008

Hollands Gives Rotation Saturday Edge

By Matt Connolly

The Gauchos had to wait an extra year to get him in uniform, but when he was called upon to be their number two starter this year as a redshirt freshman, left hander Mario Hollands proved that he was more than worth the ...

May 19, 2008

Seniors Bust Out the Brooms

By Matt Connolly

In a must-win series for a Gaucho team trying desperately to stay afloat among postseason contenders coming down the stretch, UC Santa Barbara (34-19 overall, 13-8 in the Big West) bust out the brooms in a crucial sweep ...