LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Women's Volleyball team faced UC Davis on Saturday afternoon for its second match of its LA weekend. While the Gauchos stepped up to prevent a shutout, the Aggies picked up a 3-1 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Davis came out of the gate swinging, taking the first set 25-15. After an initial 5-5 tie, the Aggies would be the team to take the reins, and they led for the rest of the set.
For the second match in a row, the Gauchos came back to clinch the second set, this time winning it 25-18. UC Davis had its last chance at 8-8, after which the Gauchos found the lead and never relinquished it. The Gauchos stayed a couple of points ahead until 19-15, when they widened the gap. Santa Barbara carried on, making another six points to put their name on the board and prevent an Aggie sweep.
UC Davis marginally won the third set, putting in a 25-22 win. The two teams were tight through the set, with neither opponent reaching more than a four-point lead. In the end, the scales tipped to Davis, and the match headed to the fourth. UC Davis had a leg up for most of the final set, as they led for the entirety after 2-2. The Aggies kept Santa Barbara back, responding to every offensive Gaucho effort, and they took the set 25-17.
STAT RECAP
Gabi Martinez piloted the offense once again, landing 14 kills for another double-digit match. Martinez also put in critical defense, achieving her fourth double-double of the season after shoveling ten digs. Two other Gauchos also had ten digs, including Cortni Youngblood, who notched her ninth double-dig of the year.
Danica Rach was also there to scoop ten, matching her season high. Rach, who had not yet made a kill this season, made a blistering ten against Davis. She finished with the team's second-highest kill count while hitting .348.
Ava Zamora saw her highest assist count of the season at 20, and Avery Gibbs laid her first career solo block. Reilly Goueth had three digs for a career-high and also led the Gauchos in blocks with three.
UP NEXT
The Gauchos will return to Galen Center on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. to face the hosting USC Trojans.
