SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The UC Santa Barbara Women's Volleyball team split its Friday doubleheader on day one of the Thunderdome Classic as the Gauchos fell 3-0 to Washington State before defeating VCU 3-1. UCSB has now won three of its last four matches.

Match One: WSU 3, UCSB 0

ON THE STAT SHEET

• Michelle Ohwobete was the sole Gaucho in double figures notching 14 kills on a .387 hitting percentage
• Macall Peed picked up 16 digs and converted on all 19 reception opportunities
• UCSB swung a fair .259 clip but allowed WSU to hit a .400
• The Cougars landed six aces

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Set (25-21 WSU)

• UCSB never led in the opening set of the tournament
• Despite trailing by as much as nine the Gauchos bounced back to cut the lead to three at 23-20

Second Set (25-22 WSU)

• Deni Wilson posted a 4-0-7 line for a .571 hitting percentage
• After taking a 9-8 lead the Cougars managed to hold off the Gauchos never letting them retie the set

Third Set (25-15 WSU)

• UCSB allowed the Cougars to hold serve only converting on 10-of-24 sideout opportunities

Match Two: UCSB 3, VCU 1

ON THE STAT SHEET

• Tallulah Froley (14), Sophie Messinger (11), and Ohwobete (10) notched double digit kills
• Ohwobete has now seen 10+ kills in seven straight matches
• Froley posted a potent 14-3-25=.440 line as did Rowan Ennis who went 7-1-4=.429 and Wilson who went 9-2-17= .412
• UCSB held serve well and made the most of it tallying a season high 10 aces
• Kobie Jimenez notched a career-high five aces and Macall Peed had three
• Peed led the way with 15 digs and Ennis paces the team with five blocks

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Set (VCU 25-9)

• The Rams fell behind early in the opening set but bounced back to swing a .438 clip as a team
• After taking a 12-11 lead VCU rushed to a 1-0 lead in the match

Second Set (UCSB 25-16)

• UCSB hits an outstanding .600 and converts on 13-of-17 sideout opportunities
• Ohwobete hit a perfect 4-0-4 and Wilson went 4-0-5
• The Gauchos led by as many nine and the Rams never led
• Ennis ended the set with a big kill to give the Gauchos their first set of the weekend

Third Set (UCSB 25-12)

• UCSB dominated the third set not allowing VCU to hold serve by converting on 11-of-12 sideout opportunities
• The Gauchos hold the Rams to a .069 hitting percentage
• The home team led by as much 13 closing out the set on a 17-6 run capped off by another Ennis kill

Fourth Set (UCSB 25-20)

• Once again the Gauchos held serve well limiting the Rams to a .152 hitting percentage and a 12-for-21 mark on sideout opportunities
• Down 12-11 Jimenez stepped to the service the line and helped the Gauchos to a 5-0 run thanks to a pair of aces paired with a Froley kill
• The Rams clawed to stay in the contest but could not regain the lead
• Messinger gave the Gauchos the win on a match-sealing kill

UP NEXT
The Gauchos cap off the Thunderdome Classic with a rematch with Washington State tomorrow at 7 PM.