SACRAMENTO, Calif. – After a dramatic, back-and-forth match, the UC Santa Barbara Women's volleyball team upset the Sacramento State Hornets 3-1 on Saturday night. With the win, the Gauchos become 4-0 in conference play and sit at second in the conference, just one loss behind 2025 Conference champions and longtime rival Cal Poly.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set was the most even-keeled of the match, with the Gauchos and Hornets staying relatively on pace with one another. Sacramento State garnered a slight lead at 10-7, but Santa Barbara tied it at 11-11. The ties lasted for the rest of the set, with Sacramento State usually advancing one point and the Gauchos catching up the next play. Santa Barbara made it through two Sacramento State set points and tied it 24-24. One more tie appeared at 26-26, then two plays involving Emma McDermott clinched the set for the Gauchos, 28-26.
The second set saw the Hornets up 7-0 to start. Sacramento State was eventually 15 points ahead of the Gauchos at 22-7. Santa Barbara reached double digits with 10 points, but the Hornets took the set 25-10.
In the third, the score pendulum swung heavily back towards the Gauchos, who opened the set 14-0 and finished it 25-10. Seven kills, two aces from Milan Rex, two blocks, and three Hornet errors brought the Gauchos to their best set opener in years. The Gauchos made it 15 points ahead at 20-5, then finished the set also ahead by 15 at 25-10.
The Gauchos led slightly for the first phase of the fourth set, putting themselves a couple of points up at 7-5. The Hornets tied it at 8-8, but that would be their last chance. Santa Barbara buffered several points ahead of the Hornets for the remainder of the set. They reached 15-12, then 20-18. Up three points at 23-20, Sandrea Thomas and Bella Mathis both sank a kill to bring the Gauchos to a 25-20 set victory.
STAT RECAP
Gabi Martinez hit 15 kills for the second match in a row, while also hitting .357. The sophomore also nailed four service aces to lead the match. Auburn Tomkinson also reached double digits in kills with 11 and hit .420 to bring her weekend hitting average to .600. Cortni Youngblood picked up a stunning 17 digs, and the team as a whole made 42 to the Hornets' 28.
Milan Rex paced the offense with 23 assists, while Ava Zamora followed up with 15 and two kills.
UP NEXT
The Gauchos stay on the road, heading to Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton on Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10.
