The UCSB women’s volleyball team improved to 15-8 overall and 11-2 in Big West play Friday night as the Gauchos picked up their 10th sweep of the season over CSU Bakersfield, 25-23, 25-17, 26-24.
They have now won 13 of their last 15 matches and remain well in contention for the conference title, a game behind league-leading Hawai’i at 12-1. The Gauchos play at 10-3 Cal Poly Saturday at 7 p.m.
Michelle Ohwobete led all players with 12 kills on a potent .370 clip and completed the double-double with 10 digs. It’s her eighth double-double of the year and she added two blocks and an ace as well.
Macall Peed led the match with 16 digs and was a perfect 10-for-10 on serve receptions. Briana McKnight had 13 digs and added three blocks.
Mehana Ma’a and Grace McIntosh each dished out 14 assists in the 6-2 offense with Ma’a scooping four digs and McIntosh adding six.
The opening set saw 10 ties and two lead changes as both teams hit a solid clip. UCSB posted a match-high .458 to the Roadrunners’ .393. With the set tied at 22-22, UCSB earned the next two points on an Ohwobete kill and a block from Deni Wilson and McKnight drawing a CSUB timeout. The call proved effective as the ‘Runners won the next point, but an attack error by the home team gave UCSB the set.
The second frame was all UCSB, as despite hitting just a .118, the Gaucho defense limited CSU Bakersfield to a match-low 0.26 and held serve well with the Roadrunners going under 50% on sideout attempts.
UCSB was outhit .220 to .128 in the final frame as CSUB jumped out to a 14-8 lead, but the Gauchos were determined to secure the sweep. An 8-1 run saw UCSB reclaim the lead at 16-15 and then surge to set point at 24-20.
The ‘Runners refused to quit, rattling off a 4-0 run to tie it at 24 apiece. Another McKnight and Wilson block put the Gauchos at match point and an Ohwobete kill that had to be challenged and overturned granted UCSB the victory.