Despite a career-high 24 kills from freshman Jeff Menzel, UCSB’s men’s volleyball team suffered a 3-1 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation loss to Cal State Northridge on Saturday at Robertson Gymnasium.
In their MPSF home opener, the 14th-ranked Gauchos (1-5, 0-3 MPSF) were downed 31-33, 30-28, 30-24 and 30-24 by the eighth-ranked Matadors (4-2, 2-1 MPSF).
Menzel, a true freshman from San Marcos High, added seven digs, three blocks, and a team-high 27 points. Theo Brunner, who was moved back to his usual middle hitter position, went for 12 kills and 13 points. Menzel played opposite hitter Saturday, a position that Brunner had played in UCSB’s previous five matches.
At the net, Sam Moisenco totaled a match-high eight blocksfor the Gauchos.
Northridge’s Eric Vance piled up a career-high 26 kills. Vance hit well, committing just five errors in 52 swings, good for a match-best .400 attack percentage. Cody Loe chipped in with 11 kills and Mike Gaudino was just behind with 10.
Again, UCSB was lethargic on the attack, posting a .163 attack percentage to Northridge’s .278.
UCSB is now 0-2 against Northridge this season. The Matadors blanked the Gauchos on Jan. 4 as part of the Elephant Bar Restaurant Collegiate Invitational.
Saturday’s match was the first of a five-match home stand for UCSB. Next up at Rob Gym is Stanford on Friday, Pacific on Jan. 26, and a pair against Hawai’i Feb. 1-2. All four matches are 7 p.m. starts.
Scott Flanders is UCSB‘s associate media relations director.