TUCSON, Ariz. – The UC Santa Barbara Women's Volleyball team took on Tarleton State Friday for its first match of the season, a contest they clinched 3-2 despite trailing the first two sets. Outstanding offense and teamwork brought the Gauchos a victory, and Head Coach Michael Henchy picked up his first career win as a head coach,
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos saw a dampened start after the Texans began the first set with a 16-5 lead. Then, four points from the Gauchos, including two consecutive service aces by Ayva Ostovar began to close the gap. Santa Barbara made it all the way to just one point behind at 21-20 before the Texans closed it 25-22.
Tarleton State also won the second set 25-22, though this time around the Gauchos stayed much closer to their opponents. Santa Barbara tied it at 12-12 and even took their first lead of the match at 13-12. Tarleton then pulled ahead, and though the Gauchos made up lost ground, the Texans took the set.
By the third set, Santa Barbara had found their rhythm. Though they initially trailed at 9-8, they burst ahead and finished at 25-15. They made six points in a row to make it 13-9 and never lost their momentum. They made another six points in a row to make it 22-12, then rounded out the set to finish still ten points ahead.
Tarleton State made up for their loss in the third, but still landed three points behind as the Gauchos took the fourth 25-22. The two were tied through 12-12 before the Gauchos sped ahead to a 21-14 lead. The Texans managed to make an eight-point comeback, but it was not enough to vanquish the Gauchos.
Tarleton State looked as though they would snap back to take the fifth, but the match would go to the Gauchos. The Texans led halfway through at 7-4, but Santa Barbara tied it at 7-7 with an ace by Sophia Wendlick. A kill from Gabi Martinez and another ace from Wendlick put the Gauchos ahead 9-7. Three consecutive aces from Bianca Nistor and another three kills from Martinez gave the Gauchos a win in their first match of the season.
Gabi Martinez came out swinging, slamming a match-high of 16 kills, just three away from her all-time record. Two more Gauchos secured ten or more kills, with Auburn Tomkinson nailing 14 and Wendlick a career-high 11. Tomkinson was virtually unstoppable, as she hit .435 overall from just 23 attempts. Wendlick made career-highs in nine categories, highlighted by eight digs, three service aces, and a solo block.
Cortni Youngblood began her promising season with 11 digs, leading the team and starting the season strong at over ten digs. Sandrea Thomas had the best match of her career, reaching all-time highs in three categories with eight kills, three aces, and three solo blocks. She also hit a stunning .887 from 12 attempts.
Bianca Nistor had a career-high three service aces, while Avery Gibbs made her lifetime high of three kills and one block. The Gauchos made 16 more kills as well as 13 more digs than the Texans. The 2026 Gauchos also put themselves in the record books, making 14 to tie with the third-highest count of all time.
Santa Barbara is back in action early Saturday morning, taking on Prairie View A&M at 10 a.m.
