SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UC Santa Barbara Women's Volleyball took on Pepperdine tonight, who came back from a 2-0 deficit to reverse sweep the match 3-2. The Gauchos were hosting the Waves for their annual match up, during which they generated an impressive stat file despite their fall.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos started the match strong, earning four points off the bat and eventually winning the first set. Santa Barbara maintained a minor edge for the majority of the set, with Pepperdine only momentarily leading at 10-9 before losing 25-23 in the end.

The second set was promising, with the Gauchos creating a larger victory margin of 25-21. Eva Travis made 12 kills by the middle of the second and was hitting .588. 

During the third, the Gauchos led for the majority of the set, even reaching the midpoint with a four point lead of 15-11. Pepperdine inched its way back to a victory, however, by getting nine of the following 12 points and eventually taking the set 25-22.

The Waves followed the momentum and claimed the fourth set as well, 25-19. It was a close contest through 14-14, after which Pepperdine surged ahead and managed five points in a row. Santa Barbara was unable to slow the Waves' roll and Pepperdine finished out the set. 

The fifth set was very tied, with the teams exchanging points one by one. After a bind at 11-11, the Waves put up blocks and kills to finish out the match and win the road. 

STAT RECAP

• Cortni Youngblood achieved a career high in digs with 28
• Travis led the match in kills with 23, her second highest count of the season and third time reaching 20+ kills
• Kiersten Schmitt picked up a double double, nailing 10 kills and providing 15 digs
• Layanna Green hit .423 and landed 14 kills 
• Milan Rex hit 200 assists for the season, making 27 to bring her 2025 total to 212
• Grace Wuischpard went two for two on attempts and kills
• Four Gauchos got solo blocks, including Schmitt who is tied for first in the conference in total solos 

UP NEXT
UC Santa Barbara Women's Volleyball will head to Ohio to participate in the Dayton Invitational from Sept. 19-21, playing Wright State, Dayton, and Illinois State.