SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Women's Volleyball team took on Long Beach State for the second time this season on Saturday night, where they once again fell 3-1 to the Beach.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beach began with a win, taking set one 25-21. The Gauchos posted a slight lead at 5-4, but Long Beach State made four points in a row to take an 8-5 lead. The Beach kept just a couple of points ahead through the early teens before the Gauchos tied it 16-16. Long Beach carried ahead with the Gauchos close behind, reaching 20-19. The Beach then closed out with a final 25-21.
Long Beach decisively won the second set, claiming it 25-16. The Beach was off to a 5-1 lead, which they expanded to 9-3. Long Beach then reached 20 and 25 points first, but the Gauchos recovered some ground to finish the set at 16.
The Gauchos turned the match around in the third, clinching it 25-22. They were dominant throughout, leading off with an 8-2 head start. A kill by Emma McDermott brought the Gauchos up 12-6, and a kill from Gabi Martinez brought them up 19-10. Long Beach recovered a lot of ground, catching up just two points behind at 24-22, but McDermott finished the set for the Gauchos with a kill.
The fourth and final set was strained, with the Gauchos nearly pushing to five, but the Beach ultimately took it 29-27 in overtime. Santa Barbara began with a 5-1 lead, then followed with 8-3. The Beach scored seven to tie it at 10-10, but the Gauchos returned with a 16-11 advantage. They were the first to 20 at 20-16, then nearly reached 25 points at 23-19. The Gauchos reached set points at 24-22, but the Beach resisted defeat and tied it 24-24. Three more ties ensued, the final one being 27-27 before Long Beach managed the final two points and took the win after their comeback.
STAT RECAP
Auburn Tomkinson and Avery Gibbs led the Gauchos on offense, both laying down ten kills, while Tomkinson also provided a team-high block total with six. Emma McDermott and Gabi Martinez followed with nine kills each, while Martinez had a match-high 14 digs and McDermott 13. Milan Rex also reached double-digit digs with 11 and lifted 23 assists.
UP NEXT
The Gauchos continue at home on Friday, Nov. 13 against Sacramento State, who sits at third in The Big West and has an equal conference record as the Gauchos of 9-5. Santa Barbara will then celebrate Senior Night on Saturday, Nov. 14 against Utah Valley. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m.
