SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The fourth-ranked Gauchos earned their first sweep of the young season Thursday night defeating No. 13 UC San Diego (25-22, 25-14, 25-20). UC Santa Barbara is now off to a 2-0 start only dropping one set in two matches with the Tritons. 

After a stellar performance in the season opener last night, Keenan Sanders was at it again tonight in Rob Gym. The senior middle posted another clean sheet notching 12 kills on just 17 swings with no errors, for a hitting percentage of .706. He added a pair of digs and a trio of block assists. 

Ryan Wilcox was next with nine kills to go along with five aces, four digs, and two solo blocks. Casey McGarry posted 36 assists on the night and tied for the most digs with six. The senior setter got it done at the net as well with three block assists. 

The Gauchos got out to a slow start falling behind 11-6 early before locking in and going on 4-0 run of their own to cut the lead to just one. They wouldn't regain the lead until they found a clutch kill from Sanders that put them up 22-21. Three different Gauchos would notch the next three points, including an ace by Sanders on set-point, to take the set 25-22.

The momentum from the first set comeback carried into the second as UCSB stormed out to a 6-1 run that was eventually parlayed to a 10-point lead at 15-5. The teams traded punches in the later points, but UCSB kept climbing to lead by as much 13 before ending the set at 25-14. The Gauchos posted a match-best .684 hitting percentage in the set.

The Tritons showed life in the third and final set with both teams keeping the contest close. There would be eleven ties before the Gauchos began to pull away late in the set to take it 25-20. 

UCSB got it done from the service line nearly matching their aces to their errors. The team had eight aces and 10 service errors. The Gauchos led all major stat categories and out-hit the Tritons .378 to .169.

The next test of the season comes this Sunday when the Gauchos host UC Irvine for a Sunday doubleheader at 10 AM and 4 PM. Both matches will be non-conference.