Box Score SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The No. 11 UC Santa Barbara men's volleyball team opened the 2022 Asics Invitational against USC on Thursday with a 2-1 lead, but fell it its season-opener after dropping the final two sets, 19-25, 25-22, 17-25, 25-23, 15-8.
ON THE STAT SHEET
- Junior opposite Haotian Xia led all players with a career-high 21 kills (.349) to go along with three blocks and two aces.
- The lone Off the Block Preseason All-American on the squad, junior outside hitter Ryan Wilcox was second on the team with 18 kills (.342), also adding an ace and two blocks.
- 2019 Big West All-Freshman Brandon Hicks led the Gauchos with five blocks and an efficient .625 hitting percentage for his six kills.
- In his sixth career apperance, sophomore setter Patrick Paragas went for 46 assists and eight digs.
- A pair of sophomores in libero Ryan Pecsok and outside hitter Sam Collins tied for team-high honors with nine digs apiece.
- The Gauchos actually slightly outhit the Trojans .333-to-.328 and enoyed a 10-6 advantage in blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Set (25-19 UCSB)
- Both teams traded points early in a tight opening set until, leading 12-11, the Gauchos broke ahead with a 7-1 run to go up 19-12.
- Xia enjoyed his most prolific game, registering six kills (.667) on just nine swings.
- Hicks added five points (3-3 kill attempts, 2 blocks), including the set-clincher.
2nd Set (25-22 USC)
- The Gauchos started strong in set two, taking leads of 4-1 and 12-6 with efficient attacking.
- USC fought back, slowly inching closer before taking control late. Down 21-17 and having trailed the whole set, the Trojans reeled off seven straight and tied things at 1-1.
3rd Set (25-17 UCSB)
- Santa Barbara took another lead in game three, but would never relinquish it this time. The Gaucho lead grew to its largest of the day on the final point, a fierce triple block by Xia, Sam Collins and Tracy Rhys to give UCSB a 2-1 advantage.
- After putting up two kills in the opening two sets, Wilcox was unleashed to the tune of seven kills (.750) on eight attempts.
4th Set (25-23 USC)
- Following a Rhys kill to tie things at 11-11, USC pulled away with a 5-0 spurt, including two aces by redshirt sophomore opposite Simon Gallas.
- The Gauchos fought back to pull within one point on four occasions, but came up just short as a service error ended the set in the visitors' favor.
5th Set (15-8 USC)
- Xia's 21st and final kill of the day capped a 3-1 UCSB run to tie the decisive set at 8-8. However, USC closed with its second 7-0 run of the day to claim the season-opening win.
NEXT UP
Another change to the tournament schedule has been announced. Originally scheduled to play No. 10 UC San Diego on Saturday, the Gauchos will instead now face USC tomorrow in a 3:00 p.m. rematch in the second and final match at Rob Gym for the week.
