The UC Santa Barbara Men’s Volleyball team (9-16) was back in The Thunderdome for their final home match of the season as they took on the No. 14 CSUN Matadors.
By the end of the evening, it was UC Santa Barbara who came out with the four-set victory, taking down the Matadors with scores of 26-28, 25-21, 25-14 and 25-19 on Senior Night.
The first set started in favor of the visitors. CSUN scored the first three points for the early lead. It didn’t last long. The Gauchos rallied back quickly to tie up the set. These two teams went back and forth 11 times before this set headed into extra points.
Despite some big plays from the Gauchos, it wasn’t enough to come out with the win as UC Santa Barbara dropped the first set 26-28.
The Gauchos were ready to fight back in the second set, taking an early lead. And that lead was all they needed. UC Santa Barbara built a seven-point lead with the help of Geste Bianchi’s 10 kills.
Even though the Matadors made one last effort at the end, the Gauchos wouldn’t allow it as UC Santa Barbara won the second set 25-21.
The third set started the same way the second ended as the Gauchos picked up where they left off. Ben Coordt was instrumental in this set as he contributed two aces while registering six kills and no errors on eight swings, which helped the Gauchos earn their nine-point lead.
No matter what the Matadors tried, they couldn’t come back in this set as the Gauchos secured the third set 25-14.
The Gauchos went into this set in pursuit of their second-straight win, and that is exactly what they did.
The Blue and Gold battled with the Matadors through the first few points, but once Ben Coordt made it to the service line, UC Santa Barbara built a lead they could maintain. This resulted in the Gauchos taking the final set 25-19.
Geste Bianchi went off yet again against the Matadors as he contributed 27 kills in just four sets.
He was also extremely efficient on offense as he only made five errors to hit at a .440 clip. To top it all off, he added on three aces.
Ben Coordt had a great night at the pin as well. He finished the night with 13 kills while only having three errors to hit at a .455 clip. Not only that, but he also notched three aces and five digs.
Jack Walmer led the offensive efforts with 52 assists. He also found success from the service line as he contributed two aces.
Jaden Glenn was all over the court tonight. The reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Week came out with 14 digs in four sets.
Owen Loncar was extremely proficient in the middle. He finished the night hitting at a .833 clip with five kills and no errors on six swings.
The Gauchos had a phenomenal night from the service line as they put up 14. This is good enough to sit in fourth in the record books for the most aces recorded in a match.
The Gauchos will play one more regular season match as they make the trip to Northridge to take on the Matadors of CSUN.
First serve will be at 6 p.m. inside the Premier America Credit Union Arena. For those who can’t make it to Northridge, they can watch from home on ESPN+.