BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Women's Volleyball team went 3-0 against Cal State Bakersfield today, defeating the Roadrunners for the second time this season and securing an undefeated weekend. The Gauchos took the victory in straight sets to become 9-3 in 2025 conference play. 

?FROM HEAD COACH MATT JONES
"Tonight we had some more adversity as we had to sit Gabi Martinez with food poisoning. Once again, the team stepped up and got the job done," Jones said. "Defensively, it was a good effort, and that started at the service line. Happy with our ability to take care of the match in three sets."

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos worked a combined effort to get the win tonight, earning it with 37 team kills and an outstanding 17 team block assists, the second-highest total in program history.

?Santa Barbara led for all of the first set and by as many as nine points. It ended at 25-22 after the Roadrunners made up some lost ground late in the set, but still went to the Gauchos. The Gauchos won the second set more decisively at 25-18. They formed a significant point budget not long after a tie at 1-1 and maintained it through the finish.

?The Roadrunners pushed back during the third, but the Gauchos clinched the sweep after ending it 25-23. Bakersfield garnered its first lead of the match at 3-2, but the Gauchos quickly shut it down. They earned one of their best leads of the match at 14-5. The Roadrunners caught up during the latter half of the third, but to no avail, and the Gauchos got the sweep.

Bianca Nistor rose to the occasion tonight, digging a career-high 17 digs and totaling 29 for the weekend. Her actions as the sole defensive specialist for the Gauchos this weekend were monumental, as she had previously never had more than five digs in a week.  She logged 4.83 digs per set this weekend.

?Emma McDermott led the Gauchos' kill count, notching eight. Layanna Green had a standout match, hitting a stunning .538 with seven kills off of 13 attempts. She also put up five block assists, three aces, and hit .484 for the weekend. Caroline Foraker had a career-high six kills and three blocks.

UP NEXT
The Gauchos have a four-match home stand, beginning with UC San Diego on Friday, Nov. 7 and Long Beach State on Saturday, Nov. 8.