• The Schedule: 2022 UCSB Invitational
Thursday, Jan. 6 at 3:00 PM
vs. USC (2021 Record: 5-13)
at Robertson Gymnasium in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Live Stats | Watch on ESPN+
Saturday, Jan. 8 at 3:00 PM
vs. UC San Diego (2021 Record: 5-13)
at Robertson Gymnasium in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Live Stats | Watch on Stretch Internet
• Recapping an Incredible 2021 Season
A star-studded 2021 UCSB roster advanced all the way to the NCAA Tournament Semifinals as the Gauchos made their first run at a national title in 10 years. Four Gauchos were named First Team All-Conference for the first time, while a program record five became AVCA All-Americans and head coach Rick McLaughlin was named the USMC/AVCA DI-II Men's Coach of the Year for the second straight time. No. 3 Santa Barbara became the third team to win the Big West Championship, defeating No. 4 UC San Diego in four sets on Apr. 25. The Gauchos went on to earn their first tournament win since 2011 with another four-set win over No. 5 Pepperdine in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals.
• Reduced Tournament Schedule
Originally a nine-match slate including six programs, the 2022 UCSB Inviational will now include three matches between three teams. No. 11 UC Santa Barbara opens the year against USC on Thursday, Jan. 6. The Trojans will face No. 10 UC San Diego on Friday. The Gauchos close the tournament on Saturday against UCSD. All matches will take place at 3:00 p.m. at Rob Gym.
• New Year, New Opportunities
Following a year in which they held top-10 national rankings in kills, assists, digs and hitting percentage, the Gauchos return to the court with a fresh lineup that will be without four of its five 2021 AVCA All-Americans. Outside hitter Ryan Wilcox was the only non-senior to earn All-American status last year. The Big West Championship MVP returns for his junior campaign after leading the Big West with 35 aces and placing top-10 in kills (2.81), digs (2.14), points (3.5) and aces per set (0.47). He was the only Gaucho to be named to the 2022 Off the Block Preseason All-American Team.
This year's 26-man roster features six freshmen and includes seven other returners who saw playing time last year. Sophomore middle blocker Donovan Todorov excelled in the final 15 matches of his freshman season as he finished near the top of the conference charts in blocks (1.17) and hitting percentage (.456). Also included among the returners are 2019 All-Freshman middle blocker Brandon Hicks, and sophomores who combined for 27 appearances last year in libero Ryan Pecsok and outside hitter Dayne Chalmers.
• AVCA Preseason Poll
After spending most of 2021 with a top-3 national ranking, this year's Gauchos will be looking to prove themselves early as they begin the year with a No. 11 preseason ranking.
2022 Preseason AVCA Rankings
1 Hawaii (12
2 UCLA (1)
3 Pepperdine (1)
4 Long Beach State (3)
5 Penn State
6 BYU (2)
7 Loyola-Chicago
8 Lewis
9 Grand Canyon
10 UC San Diego
11 UC Santa Barbara
12 UC Irvine
13 Ohio State
14 McKendree
15-T Ball State
15-T George Mason
15-T NJIT
( ) – First place votes
• McLaughlin Returns Following Second Straight AVCA National Coach of the Year
For the second straight year, head coach Rick McLaughlin took home both the Big West and AVCA National Coach of the Year awards. McLaughlin earned his fourth career conference coach of the year honor in a year where the Gauchos went 15-5 with thirteen of their wins coming against nationally ranked teams. They spent almost the entirety of the year ranked as the third-best team in the country and were top-four every week.
The Gaucho head coach led his team to its first ever Big West Championship, giving the program its first conference tournament title and trip to the NCAA Tournament in 10 years. The Gauchos went into their first NCAA Tournament since 2011 ranking top-10 in the country in several statistical categories, being fourth in kills per set (13.10), assists per set (12.33), and digs per set (10.37). They also rankedeighth or better in hitting percentage (.318), win-loss percentage (.789), and team attack per set (28.99).
• Spectators Not Permitted at UCSB Athletics Home Events Through January 17
In accordance with UC system-wide COVID-19 guidance and in response to the uncertainties concerning the Omicron variant, it was announced on Dec. 29 that spectators will not be permitted at home events effective through January 17.
On December 21, 2021 it was announced that UC Santa Barbara would begin the Winter quarter with remote instruction. The decision was reached in consultation with other campuses, the Office of the President, the Academic Senate, campus health officials, students, and others in the campus community, and at the recommendation of the COVID-19 Working Group.
• Going Digital
Install the new UCSB Gaucho Gameday app on your smartphone for exclusive UCSB coverage all season long. Now available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
UCSB is moving to mobile ticketing beginning this season. For more information, click here.
