The host UCSB men’s volleyball team fell in a thrilling five-setter to Lincoln Memorial University in the second day of the Asics Invitational Friday, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 17-25, 15-12.
The Gauchos, now 1-1 and ranked 7th in the AVCA preseason poll, close invitational play Saturday against No. 2 UCLA. Game time is 8 p.m. in Rob Gym.
Gaucho sophomore setter Jack Walmer had another strong game with a double-double of 50 assists and 11 digs, adding three kills with no errors.
UCSB also had three players with double figures, Ryan Wilcox with 15, Nick Amoruso with 13, Donovan Todorov with 11 and Brandon Hicks 10. The Gauchos outhit the Railsplitters 0.326 to 0.299.
Both teams came out strong, UCSB hitting at a .467 clip and Lincoln Memorial with .727 in the first set, taken by the Railsplitters 25-23.
The teams split the next two sets, and then UCSB dominated the fourth set with a 25-17 win, outhitting Lincoln Memorial .455 to .103.
The teams played neck-and-neck in the final set, with Lincoln Memorial scoring on key plays at the end to prevail 15-12.
The Gaucho middle blockers were particularly efficient. Todorov had only one error with a .714 percentage after going 100 percent in the first two games. Hicks hit at a .533 clip, and added three blocks to his 10 kills.