The Schedule
Friday, Feb. 7 2020 at 4:00 p.m.
No. 3 UC Santa Barbara at No. 15 Ohio State
Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio.
All-time record vs. the Buckeyes: 7-2
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Video: Big Ten Network
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.
No. 3 UC Santa Barbara vs. No. 9 Penn State (neutral site)
Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio.
All-time record vs. the Nittany Lions: 8-7
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Video: Big Ten Network
Staying Put
Despite dropping their first two matches of the season this past weekend to No. 2 BYU, the Gauchos remain in the third spot, trailing just No. 1 Hawai'i in the Big West.
Mr. Efficiency
Senior opposite hitter Keenan Sanders has had a potent swing through the team's first eight matches. He currently leads the Big West with a .570 hitting percentage. The Gaucho vet has posted 54 kills on just 86 attempts and has committed just five errors.
The Ace
Senior outside hitter Randy DeWeese has been dangerous behind the serving line for the Gauchos this season as he leads the Big West with 15 aces for an average of 0.56 aces per set. His thunderous serve has made it difficult for teams to find a rhythm and set up their offense.
Double Threat
Senior setter Casey McGarry has been a huge part of UCSB's success in the early season on both sides of the ball. McGarry currently leads the Big West in both assists per set (10.81) and digs per set (2.59).
Big West Domination
UCSB is currently ranked in the top three of the Big West Conference in every major stat category including holding the top spot in digs, assists, and opponent hitting percentage.
McGarry Earns Back-to-Back Off the Block Honors
Senior setter Casey McGarry was phenomenal in UCSB's 3-0 start at the 2020 UCSB Asics Invitational, leading the team to a potent .391 attack percentage on the back of his 102 assists and .576 assist rate. That statline earned him the Off the Block National Setter of the Week award opening week, and he once again earned the accolade after his 62 assists, 17 digs, and four service aces helped UCSB stay perfect through five games and 15 sets.
2020 Vision
Following an 18-10 campaign in 2019 that saw the Gauchos ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation, UCSB brings back the bulk of its lineup and is poised for a successful 2020 season. Despite graduating All-Americans Corey Chavers and Hayden Boehle, Santa Barbara returns six pivotal rotation players from a year ago, headlined by AVCA Newcomer of the Year and Big West Freshman of the Year, Ryan Wilcox. Wilcox and middle blocker Brandon Hicks were both named to the conference's All-Freshman Team last season. UCSB also returns its dynamic setting duo of Randy DeWeese and Casey McGarry, along with key offensive pieces in Keenan Sanders and Spencer Fredrick.
Big West Coaches Poll
The Gauchos were picked to finish second in the Big West in 2020 as the annual preseason coaches poll was announced in December. American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason No. 1 Hawai'i received all six first-place votes and 36 total votes to claim the top spot in the Big West poll, while UCSB received 28 votes. Back-to-back defending national champion Long Beach State was picked to finish third with 23 votes after losing a handful of key players, while UC Irvine was projected to finish fourth with 19 votes. CSUN (13 votes) and UC San Diego (seven votes) round out the six teams in the poll.
AVCA Preseason Poll
Following a strong 2019 campaign, Santa Barbara began the season ranked No. 5, as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Poll was announced in December. Big West rival Hawai'i will start the year No. 1 while Long Beach State is No. 4. No. 8 UC Irvine and No. 13 CSUN make up the conference schools in the Top-15.
New Faces on the Sidelines
With the departures of associate head coaches Cullen Irons and Vince Devany in the offseason, the Gaucho coaching staff will feature a pair of new, yet familiar faces on the sidelines. Alongside head coach Rick McLaughlin, who returns for his 12th season at the helm, Gaucho alums Jonah Seif '16 and Blaine Nielsen '12 come on board as assistant coaches. Seif, a four-year starting setter for the Gauchos from 2012-16, is one of the most decorated UCSB men's volleyball players in program history. The Thousand Oaks, Calif. native was a three-time AVCA All-American and MPSF First Team selection and ranks fourth all-time in Gaucho lore with 4,332 career assists. Following a standout career at UCSB, Seif played professionally in Poland and Italy, and also spent time with Team USA. Nielsen, meanwhile, spent five seasons in the Gauchos volleyball program from 2008 to 2012 as an outside hitter. A Corona del Mar, Calif. native, Nielsen was a member of the 2011 team that advanced to the National Championship against Ohio State. Following his collegiate career, Nielsen played professionally in Luxembourg before teaching private lessons and playing beach volleyball. He also spent time working at a nutrition and health company in Northern California.
