BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Women's Volleyball team (18-2) hit the road to kick off the midway point of Big West play as the Gauchos took on the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners. Despite the injuries that impacted UC Santa Barbara's lineup, the Gauchos wrapped up their time in Bakersfield with a win, taking down the Roadrunners in three sets (25-23, 25-20, 25-14).
 
FROM HEAD COACH MATT JONES
"Our team did a nice job of being resilient after Tasia Farmer went down during the second play of the match with an ankle sprain. I'm proud of how the team rallied and continued to execute as we made some adjustments throughout. Even with Tasia and Andi Kreiling out, we just continued to get cleaner as the match went on. We'll need to find a way to battle through CSUN on Saturday as we work to get healthy. Right now, it's really a next-woman-up mentality."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set started in favor of the Gauchos. Michelle Zhao propelled her team to a five-point lead. However, Cal State Bakersfield fought back, tying the set at 21's. Even with the Roadrunners' best efforts to make a comeback, they didn't succeed. The Gauchos took the first set 25-23.
 
At the start of the second set, the Roadrunners took control. They went up by as many as four points as the Gauchos worked to get in a rhythm. As soon as they found it, Santa Barbara made its move. With the help of Michelle Ohwobete from the service line and kills from Grace Wuischpard and Sophie Reavis, the Gauchos were right back in this set, taking the lead from the Roadrunners. From there, UC Santa Barbara never let up as they took the second set 25-20.
 
Once the third set began, the Gauchos had control and would not let up. Zhao's serving gave the Gauchos a four-point lead before Grace McIntosh stepped in and continued where she left off. By the time the set was over, the Gauchos were hitting at a .424 clip while going up by 11, taking the third and final set 25-14.  
 
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Outside hitters Briana McKnight and Michelle Ohwobete contributed the most kills for the Gauchos. McKnight ended the match with 13 kills while hitting at a .333 clip while Ohwobete notched 12 kills of her own, only making two errors.
• To go along with her offensive efforts, Ohwobete secured the team's only ace of the night while adding on four blocks.
• Reavis had a strong night on the right side. She ended the match with 10 kills while hitting at a .389 clip. She also added on two blocks to help the team's defensive efforts.
• Macall Peed led the team's defensive efforts against tonight as the only defender to grab double-digit digs. She ended the three-set match with 11 digs.
• The middle blockers, Wuischpard and Sandy Thomas, made an impact in the front row. Wuischpard finished the match with five blocks while Thomas added on three.
• Michelle Zhao and Grace McIntosh were the playmakers for the Gauchos tonight. Zhao earned the most assists of the match with 17 while McIntosh added on 16. 

UP NEXT
The Gauchos will be back in The Thunderdome on Saturday, Oct. 21 to take on the Matadors of CSUN. First serve will be at 7 p.m. with a live stream available through ESPN+.