The seventh-ranked UCSB men’s volleyball team closed out the Asics Invitational Saturday with a 3-0 loss to No. 2 UCLA in a packed Rob Gym.
The host Gauchos lost on set scores of 26-24, 25-16, 25-14. They are 1-2 for the invite and the young season. The Bruins posted a 3-0 record for the tournament.
The Gauchos started strong, going up four points early on. The Bruins caught up and the two teams battled it out with 16 tie scores and seven lead changes before UCLA claimed the 26-24 first-set win.
UCSB continued to fight in the next two sets before losing to bigger margins.
Geste Bianchi and Ben Coordt led the Gauchos with six kills apiece, and both also had an ace. Donovan Todorov had five kills with only one error in eight attempts, for a .500 clip.
Jack Walmer, a transfer from the University of Hawaii, continued his strong play at the setter position, with 19 assists six digs.
The Gauchos hit the road next week for back-to-back matches against Stanford Friday and Saturday.