PRINCETON, N.J. – The No. 12 UC Santa Barbara Men's Volleyball team (3-6) was back in action as they traveled across the country for the first of three matches on the East Coast, kicking off the trip against the No. 16 Princeton Tigers. Even though the Gauchos battled against this tough team, it wasn't enough as the Gauchos lost this match to the Tigers with scores of 18-25, 26-24, 16-15 and 21-25.
 
FROM HEAD COACH RICK MCLAUGHLIN
"It was a tough match for the Gauchos. Princeton out coached and outplayed us, and they definitely deserved the win. We will learn from it and get ready for a good Daemen team."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers started this match off hot, securing the first four points before the Gauchos could get on the board. And that wasn't all. Princeton kept the pressure on UC Santa Barbara, not giving them any room as they grew the lead to nine. That was until Jack Walmer went to the service line. With the help of the Tigers' attack errors, Walmer helped the Gauchos close the gap, giving his team some momentum and getting them within four. Even with this run, the Gauchos could not finish this set out with the win, dropping the first set 25-18 to Princeton.
 
The Gauchos were ready to pick things up, coming out strong in this second set with a five-point run with Owen Birg at the service line. The Tigers retaliated quickly, fighting right back and keeping it close with the Gauchos. The score was tied 16 times in this set before a team could come out victorious, and that team was UC Santa Barbara. With a service ace from Patrick Kane, the Gauchos finished out this second set 26-24, taking the second set from the Tigers.
 
Once the third set began, the momentum shifted to the home team. Like the first set, the Tigers started this set on top, going on multiple runs early on to go up by as many as seven points. Unfortunately for the Gauchos, Princeton didn't stop there as they finished out this third set 25-16.
 
UC Santa Barbara had to fight back in hopes of winning this match. The Tigers came out hot, grabbing the early lead over the Gauchos. But it didn't last for long. With Sam Collins' serve, UC Santa Barbara fought back and went up by three. Before long, the Tigers went on a six-point run to take the lead and then some, putting the Gauchos in a tough spot. Even though they tried to bounce back, UC Santa Barbara was not able to complete the comeback as they lost the fourth and final set to Princeton 25-21.
 
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Owen Birg led all of the Gauchos in kills as he put up 11 kills, only adding on two errors on 23 swings to hit at a .391 clip.
• Jack Walmer guided the offense as the team's primary setter. He contributed 33 assists while adding on a team-high three aces. Not only that, but he led the team in digs with eight and was tied for the most blocks with four.
• Sam Meister was a big part of the team's efforts. In the three sets he played in, he hit at a .500 clip while grabbing four blocks.
• Dain Johnson was only in the match for one set, but in that time, he finished with four blocks, two of which were solo blocks.

UP NEXT
The Gauchos will stay on the East Coast as they make their way to Massachusetts for the Harvard Invitational. In the first match of this tournament, UC Santa Barbara will take on Daemen University. First serve will be at 1 p.m. PT on Friday, Feb. 2. Live stats will be available for this match.