LONG BEACH, Calif. – The No. 12 UC Santa Barbara men's volleyball team faced a tough test on Thursday night at the Walter Pyramid, and top-ranked Long Beach State ultimately proved to be too much to handle as the 49ers recorded a 3-0 sweep; 25-17, 25-19, 25-19. 

The loss snapped a five-match winning streak for UCSB, which dropped to 9-6 overall and 2-1 in league, picking up its first-ever Big West loss. LBSU meanwhile improved to 18-0, 3-0. 

Sophomore opposite Keenan Sanders was the top performer for the Gauchos, leading the team with 11 kills and adding 10 digs to become the first UCSB player not named Randy DeWeese to record a double-double in 2018. Sophomore outside hitter Roy McFarland had one of his better attacking performances of the season, landing 10 kills on .208 hitting. Sophomore libero and Big West digs leader Grady Yould picked up 10 scoops for UCSB. 

LBSU, which has been ranked No. 1 in the country for nine straight weeks, hit .390 as a team led by 11 kills on .391 hitting from opposite Kyle Ensing. Reigning AVCA Player of the Year TJ DeFalco put his stamp on the match with five aces and seven kills on just 14 swings. 

Four kills from McFarland and three from junior middle blocker and reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Week Connor Drake weren't enough for UCSB in the opening set, with the hosts racing out to a 10-4 lead. Behind efficient hitting – the 49ers hit a match-high .500 in the first – LBSU would go on to lead by as much as nine on a UCSB service error to make it 20-11.

LBSU used a 6-1 run early to open a sizeable 9-4 advantage in the middle frame. The Gauchos battled back and even tied it midway through at 16-16, but the 49ers won nine of the final 12 points to take a commanding 2-0 lead. 

The 49ers hit a solid .446 to clinch the match in the third, receiving four kills apiece from Ensing, Simon Anderson, and Nick Amado. UCSB countered with five kills from Sanders, but could only get within four late before back-to-back kills from Anderson finished off the sweep. 

The Gauchos and 49ers will face each other again tomorrow night at Rob Gym, with first serve scheduled for 7:00 p.m.