LA JOLLA, Calif.— No. 3 UC Santa Barbara men's volleyball earned its seventh sweep of the year Thursday night defeating No. 13 UC San Diego in a non-conference match 30-28, 25-23, 25-23. The Gauchos got it done on both ends outhitting the Tritons .276 to .151 and doubling them up on blocks at 10-5. 

The Gauchos earned their seventh straight win improving to 12-4 overall, while the Tritons dropped their fourth straight falling to 3-11.

Randy DeWeese once again led the team with 13 kills, while Ryan Wilcox hit a potent 10-3-20 line for a .350 hitting percentage to go along with eight digs. Keenan Sanders, one of the most efficient attackers in the country, notched another .500+ night hitting .583 with seven kills and no errors.

Nearly notching the rare assist-dig double-double was Casey McGarry leading the match with 37 assists and the team with nine digs. Henry Hancock joined the starting lineup for the first time this season tying a career-high with five kills and setting a new career-high with six digs

Despite last night being a five-set effort, tonight's match was just as close with each set being decided by just two points. The first set was a heated contest as neither team led by more than two after being tied at 10-10. The Tritons held three set-points but could not convert, while the Gauchos kept pushing until the two were iced again at 28 apiece. A kill from Wilcox and a Triton error would grant UCSB the win 30-28.

Set two saw the Gauchos post their best mark of the night at .296 while also holding UCSD to its lowest at just .094. In addition, they bested the host team in blocks 5-1 which helped them get out to an early lead that stretched to as much as five in the middle points. 

The Tritons did not go down easy, cutting the lead to two at 19-17, but the teams would trade points from there on with Wilcox once again coming through late with the winning kill to take it 25-23.

The third and final game favored UCSD as after being tied at 8-8, the Tritons jumped ahead to as much as four, holding a late 20-16 lead. With their backs against the wall the Gauchos planted their feet mounting a 6-2 run to tie it at 22-22, before collecting three straight blocks to close out the match 25-23.

UCSB will now head home for the final match of the regular season Saturday night.