SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The UC Santa Barbara Women's Volleyball team saw a tough matchup in its home opener Friday night dropping a three-set match to San Diego State in the Gauchos' first contest of the 2021 Gaucho Invitational. 

ON THE STAT SHEET

• Deni Wilson notched an errorless match and was go-to attacking from the middle and posting a 7-0-13 line for a .538 attack percentage
• Wilson led the team with four blocks as well collecting one solo block
• 15 different Gauchos took the floor for UCSB
• SDSU out hit UCSB .384 to .187

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Set

• After trading punches through the opening points the Gauchos jumped out to a 10-5 lead
• A 12-6 run from the Aztecs had SDSU regain the lead at 16-15
• This set saw the most ties (8) and the most lead changes (2)
• Wilson earned five of her seven kills

Second Set

• The Gauchos stormed out to another strong early lead going up 7-2 but could not hold off the Aztecs who took their first lead at 14-13 and never relinquished it
• Abrielle Bross earned four of her seven kills swinging a potent .571
• Grace Kloss found four of her seven digs

Third Set

• SDSU led the set from 4-3 to the final point and converted on 80% of its sideout attempts
• Bross, Michelle Ohwobete, and Briana McKnight all notched three kills
• UCSB had its most efficient outing of the night hitting .276 but allowed SDSU a .536 mark to close the match

UP NEXT
The Gauchos are back it tomorrow with two matches on the final day of the 2021 Gaucho Invitational. UCSB hosts Kansas State at 12 PM before facing No. 21 Pepperdine later that evening at 7 PM.