SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Sept. 2, 2023) – The UC Santa Barbara Women's Volleyball team (5-1) competed on the final day of the San Diego State Invitational as they took on the host team. After three sets, the Gauchos came out with the win as they took down the Aztecs for third straight time (25-22, 25-21, 25-16).
 
FROM HEAD COACH MATT JONES
"As I said yesterday, I was excited to see how the team bounced back after their first setback of the season and they did so nicely. San Diego State was playing really well early on and we sustained that blow and then got it rolling halfway through the first set. I thought it was a good, disciplined execution of the scouting report, particularly from the service line. Now it's time to get some rest and get ready to head off to Utah."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
When the first set began, it seemed to go in favor of the host team. San Diego State came out strong, pulling ahead by three points early on. However, the Gauchos closed the gap, then continued to exchange the lead with the Aztecs three more times before holding on tight. Every member of the Gaucho offense got involved during Macall Peed's service run that pulled her team ahead for the final time. The comeback was complete as UC Santa Barbara took the first set 25-22, topped off with yet another kill from Michelle Ohwobete. 
 
The second and third sets were all UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos grabbed the lead early in both sets and never let it go. Despite the Aztecs' best efforts to come back each time, they could not keep up with the Gauchos' fast-paced offense, resulting in 25-21 and 25-16 wins in the final two sets. This was UC Santa Barbara's fourth sweep this season, the most by the Gauchos in the first six games of the season since 2004.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Ohwobete has done it again as she was the only Gaucho to finish tonight's match with double-digit kills, racking up 10 against the Aztecs. Along with that, she led the team in aces with two while finishing second on the team in digs with eight.
• The middle blockers put in work yet again in today's match. Andi Kreiling was the most efficient hitter on the team, cranking out an .857 hitting percentage (6 kills-0 errors-7 attempts). She also added on four blocks, one of which was a solo. Grace Wuischpard, on the other hand, earned a .364 hitting percentage (5 kills-1 error-11 attempts) while leading the team in blocks with five, one of which was a solo block.
• Peed's efforts in the back row never go unnoticed. The senior libero put up another double-digit night, securing 19 digs across three sets. This is her sixth time in as many matches that she earned double-digit digs. 

UP NEXT
The Gauchos will hit the road again, heading to Salt Lake City for the Utah Classic hosted by the University of Utah. UC Santa Barbara will play two matches on Friday, starting off the day at 9 a.m. PT against the University of San Francisco before taking on the host team at 6 p.m. PT. More information on how to follow along with all of them will be released in the coming days.