WVB: Gauchos can’t find offensive rhythm at Cal tournament

BERKELEY– In the final day of the Cal Molten Classic, UCSB struggled to find consistence on offense and fell to Pacific and Cal on Saturday.

Santa Barbara’s record slides to 3-6 as it finished up its final road tournament of the regular season.

Ali Barbeau led the team through the matches with 20 total kills, while Jaylen Villanueva was behind her with 19. Leading in the assists column was Ali Santi who averaged 6.14 assists per set between the two contests. Highlighting the day’s action was the Gauchos’ 25-19 second set victory against Cal.

UCSB saw its four-match winning streak end after falling 3-0 to Pacific to start the second day of the Cal Molten Classic. Though finishing with 10 total blocks, the Gauchos could not contain Pacific’s offense, which turned up 48 kills behind a team .254 hitting percentage.

Jaylen Villanueva led the Gauchos’ attack with 10 kills, while swinging at a .258 clip. Ali Barbeau and Phoebe Grunt each added eight and seven kills, respectively. Grunt also had four total blocks (two solo), while Allie Sullberg also had four. On defense, Ali Spindt recorded 12 digs.

Pacific had two players reach double digit kill figures with Kat Schulz and Anne-Sophie Bauer producing 13 and 12 kills, respectively.

UCSB was able to take a set, but Cal was able to close its tournament with a 3-1 decision over the Gauchos.

ABarbeau and Chanel Hoffman led the attack with 12 kills each, while opposites Britton Taylor and Jaylen Villanueva both recorded nine. Ali Spindt contributed on defense with a season-best 24 digs, while Ali Santi was one scoop shy of a double double as she recorded 25 assists and nine digs.

Cal was led by Christina Higgins’s 11 kills, while it also had 13 total blocks.