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University of California, Santa Barbara

Men's Volleyball

No. 6 Gauchos Defeat No. 11 UC San Diego in Conference Opener

Box Score

SANTA BARBARA. Calif. – The No. 6 UC Santa Barbara men's volleyball team opened Big West play with its fifth straight win on Friday night at Rob Gym, topping No. 11 UC San Diego in four sets, 25-20, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21.

KEY POINTS

  • After missing last week's matches against BYU, middle blocker Brandon Hicks returned to the starting lineup in style. The junior tied a season-high with seven blocks to lead all players and had five kills.
  • In a defensive effort which held the Tritons (7-6) to a .128 hitting night, three Gauchos went for double-digits in the dig department for the first time this year. Setter Patrick Paragas went for a match-high 12. Outside hitter Ryan Wilcox and libero Ryan Pecsok both had 10.
  • Match-highs from Paragas (35 assists) and Wilcox (14 kills) also saw them record UCSB's second and third double-doubles of the season. Paragas also doubled his previous career-best with four aces.
  • Sophomore outside hitters Dayne Chalmers and Nick Amoruso finished with eight kills apiece. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st Set (25-20 UCSB)

  • The Gauchos (10-4) fought through set one with a balanced offensive attack, as Wilcox Hicks and Amoruso all tallied three kills. Tied 16-16, UCSB scored five of the next six points, a run capped by a Rees Barnett ace.
  • Santa Barbara took its largest lead of the set came on the final two points, a Triton service error followed by an attacking error.

2nd Set (25-23 UCSD)

  • Both teams' offenses got on track in set two as UCSD posted a .367 clip compared to .344 for UCSB. The Tritons fended off a late Gaucho rally thanks to five kills by Kyle McCauley and the final kill from Nick Rigo.

3rd Set (25-19 UCSB)

  • Set three was the only one in which a team was held under 20 points, as UCSB continued to hit at an efficient rate (.333) while holding the Tritons (.179).
  • Wilcox had his most prolific game of the night, going for five kills on nine attempts. He, Pecsok and Paragas also combined for 11 of UCSB's 13 digs, their most in any set.
  • Junior opposite Haotian Xia entered off the bench for the last few points, providing the final touches to put UCSB up 2-1 with his first kill after being out of the lineup for the past six matches.

4th Set (25-21 UCSB)

  • Things appeared headed towards a fifth set with the Tritons jumping out to a 14-8 lead.
  • Down 16-11, Wilcox started a crucial run with another kill. With Chalmers at the service line, that was followed by three consecutive blocks, all of which involved both Paragas and Hicks.
  • The Gauchos finally took the lead, 20-19, on Wilcox's 14th and final kill of the night. Middle blocker Donovan Todorov and Chalmers had back-to-back big kills to get UCSB to match point and a Triton service error would end the night.

NEXT UP
Next Thursday, the Gauchos continue their home stand against Cal Lutheran.

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.

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Players Mentioned

Nick Amoruso

#21 Nick Amoruso

Outside Hitter/Opposite
6' 7"
Sophomore
Rees Barnett

#4 Rees Barnett

Opposite
6' 5"
Sophomore
Dayne Chalmers

#12 Dayne Chalmers

Outside Hitter
6' 4"
Sophomore
Brandon Hicks

#10 Brandon Hicks

Middle Blocker
6' 4"
Junior
Patrick Paragas

#18 Patrick Paragas

Setter
6' 0"
Sophomore
Ryan Pecsok

#8 Ryan Pecsok

Libero
5' 10"
Sophomore
Donovan Todorov

#6 Donovan Todorov

Middle Blocker
6' 6"
Sophomore
Ryan Wilcox

#9 Ryan Wilcox

Outside Hitter
6' 2"
Junior
Haotian Xia

#7 Haotian Xia

Opposite
6' 5"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Nick Amoruso

#21 Nick Amoruso

6' 7"
Sophomore
Outside Hitter/Opposite
Rees Barnett

#4 Rees Barnett

6' 5"
Sophomore
Opposite
Dayne Chalmers

#12 Dayne Chalmers

6' 4"
Sophomore
Outside Hitter
Brandon Hicks

#10 Brandon Hicks

6' 4"
Junior
Middle Blocker
Patrick Paragas

#18 Patrick Paragas

6' 0"
Sophomore
Setter
Ryan Pecsok

#8 Ryan Pecsok

5' 10"
Sophomore
Libero
Donovan Todorov

#6 Donovan Todorov

6' 6"
Sophomore
Middle Blocker
Ryan Wilcox

#9 Ryan Wilcox

6' 2"
Junior
Outside Hitter
Haotian Xia

#7 Haotian Xia

6' 5"
Junior
Opposite