Box Score SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Playing at home for the first time this season, the UC Santa Barbara women's volleyball team delighted the crowd with an impressive 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-22) win over the University of San Diego on Friday night to kick off the Thunderdome Classic.
With the win, UCSB (6-1) has now won four straight matches and is off to its best start in the Nicole Lantagne Welch era (since 2012). The Gauchos defeated a San Diego program that entered the evening receiving votes in the latest AVCA Poll, and were ranked No. 25 in the poll last week before dropping out after a five-set loss to No. 2 Nebraska.
"I'm so ecstatic for our players," head coach Lantagne Welch said. "Working to improve and making steps along the way and staying true to the process can be challenging at times and it's a moment right now that you feel rewarded. We just played great against a great team and I have a lot of respect for that program and their coaches."
Facing a talented defensive unit, the Gauchos improved their efficiency in each set, finishing with a hitting percentage of .253 (58-21-146) while holding the Toreros to .154 (54-30-156).
Lindsey Ruddins was the catalyst on offense with 20 kills while adding 14 digs for her fourth double-double in seven matches this season. Friday night also marked the third consecutive 20-kill match for the star outside hitter.
With its home crowd cheering them on, UCSB jumped out to an early 7-3 lead, but San Diego answered with a 7-3 run of its own to tie the game at 10-10. The two teams traded points down the stretch until, with the score tied 23-23, the Toreros turned to Roxie Wiblin for back-to-back kills to take the opening set.
USD carried over its momentum into the second frame to take a quick 7-2 lead, but Ruddins put together a pair of kills and a sensational one-handed set from Romoni Vivao, that led to a Deni Wilson kill, sparked a Gaucho run. Trailing 22-18, UCSB took advantage of a handful of San Diego miscues while Wilson and Ruddins came up with clutch kills and the Gauchos went on a 7-0 run to take the set 25-22, and even the match at 1-1.
Into the third set, Santa Barbara found itself down 15-12 before an 8-1 run, highlighted by strong play from Rowan Ennis and Tasia Farmer, flipped the script in favor of the Gauchos. Ennis and Tallulah Froley teamed up for a huge block for the final point to put UCSB ahead 2-1.
The Gauchos did not show any signs of a letdown in the fourth set, jumping out to a 4-0 lead behind a pair of kills from Ruddins. UCSB led handedly throughout the set and saw some powerful kills from Froley and Farmer. USD made a run late, but with a 24-22 lead, it was none other than Ruddins to slam down the final kill that just landed in bounds to seal the win.
Froley and Ennis joined Ruddins in double figures with 10 kills apiece and Ennis added eight total blocks, including two via the solo variety. Vivao paced the setting tandem with 25 assists while Olivia Lovenberg added 19. Both Vivao and Lovenberg finished with nine digs apiece and Torre Glasker added 12. Farmer finished with six kills while Wilson added five kills and six total blocks.
UCSB will continue Thunderdome Classic action tomorrow, beginning at 12:00 p.m. with a match against La Salle. The Gauchos will conclude the tournament at 7:00 p.m. against Harvard.
