Jeff Menzel pounded a match-high 25 kills and Cullen Irons added a career-best 16 as 10th-ranked UCSB came back from two sets down to upset No. 9 BYU, 3-2, Friday night in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) men's volleyball action at Robertson Gymnasium. Scores were 27-30, 27-30, 30-27, 30-27, and 15-12 in favor of the Gauchos, who defeated the Cougars for the first time since the 2005 season.With its first MPSF win of the young season, UCSB improved to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in league … [Read more...]
Bishop alum Hebda helps SBCC to sweep
Thursday, January 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Tyson Rietz pounded 13 kills and Dino Garcia added 12 on Wednesday as SBCC rallied for a 26-30, 30-18, 30-21, 30-8 men's volleyball victory at San Diego City in its season opener."We got better and better throughout the match," said coach Melody Parker. "We fooled around with the lineup and finally found a rhythm."Mark Hebda, a middle blocker from Bishop Diego High, had seven kills and six blocks. "He was quick, fiery and strong," noted Parker, who also praised freshman middle Adam Frank … [Read more...]
SBCC plans to recover from last year’s bad luck
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Things can change in a hurry on and off the volleyball court and Melody Parker can attest to that.The Vaqueros' 13th-year head coach returned from a two-year sabbatical last season to transform a two-win SBCC squad into last year's 11-7 edition that took second in the Western State Conference with a 6-4 mark. … [Read more...]
No. 2 Matadors sweep Gauchos for MPSF win
Saturday, January 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment
NORTHRIDGE - A match-high 13 kills from outside hitter Jeff Menzel wasn't enough as the 10th-ranked UCSB men's volleyball team was swept at No. 2 Cal State Northridge Friday at the Matadome. Scores went 30-21, 30-25, and 30-27.Cal State Northridge, playing in its home opener, remained perfect on the season with the win, improving to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play. UCSB dropped to 2-4 overall and is still looking for its first MPSF win at 0-3. … [Read more...]
SBVC: 18-Blue wins MLKSpeakeasy Tourney
Thursday, January 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This past holiday weekend, the 18-Blue team, coached by Liz Towne-Gilbert and assisted by Jared Godinez and John Sener, won the sixth annual MLKSpeakeasy Tournament.From the MLK SpeakEasy website: “The MLKSpeakEasy event is a high level preseason scrimmage setup by a group of club directors in a spirit of camaraderie…hosted at Saddleback Volleyball Club's new facility in Mission Viejo, Southern California.” http://www.mlkspeakeasy.com/Sixteen of the top teams in the SCVA were … [Read more...]
Bruins simply sweep No. 9 Gauchos at Pauley
Saturday, January 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment
LOS ANGELES - Despite another solid offensive outing by Jeff Menzel, the ninth-ranked UCSB men's volleyball team will have to wait at least a week to pick up its first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) victory as it was swept in three sets at No. 8 UCLA Friday. Scores went 33-31, 30-28, and 30-28 in front of 701 fans at Pauley Pavilion.As he's done in all five of UCSB's (2-3, 0-2 MPSF) matches this season, Menzel, a sophomore outside hitter, posted a team-high in the kills … [Read more...]
Local-boy Clark shines against Gauchos
Thursday, January 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Carson Clark didn't knock when he came home on Wednesday night.He just busted the door down and stormed right in.The quiet, level-headed former Santa Barbara High volleyball star put up stellar numbers while leading UC Irvine to a 30-23, 30-25, 26-30, 30-17 win over UCSB at Rob Gym, and plenty of old friends and teammates were there to see it. … [Read more...]
Young Gauchos sweep No. 4 LBSU for third
Sunday, January 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Don't look now, but the youthful UCSB men's volleyball team and its first-year head coach are playing much better than a team ranked 14th in the country.The Gauchos dismantled No. 4 Long Beach State on Saturday at Rob Gym, winning the third-place match of the Elephant Bar tourney 30-25, 30-29, 30-26. … [Read more...]
Preston, Menzel-Downing to lead Royal spikers
Saturday, January 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The names "Preston" and "Menzel" go a long way in local volleyball circles, and they're now combining forces to try and get the San Marcos girls program back on top.Courtney Preston and Erica Menzel-Downing have been named co-head coaches for the Royals after Roger Kuntz stepped down last month to focus on leading the boys team. They will be the only female head coaches in the Channel League. … [Read more...]
Gauchos split on McLaughlin’s first day
Saturday, January 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment
A new era of UC Santa Barbara men's volleyball began Friday as first-year head coach Rick McLaughlin led the 14th-ranked Gauchos to a 1-1 showing in the first day of action at the 45th Annual Elephant Bar Restaurant Collegiate Invitational at Robertson Gymnasium. McLaughlin won his inaugural UCSB match as the Gauchos topped Pacific, 3-1. In the second round, No. 5 Cal State Northridge defeated Santa Barbara, 3-1. … [Read more...]
Kuntz steps down as girls coach at SMHS
Tuesday, December 23, 2008 By Leave a Comment
In early December, San Marcos girls volleyball coach Roger Kuntz announced that he is resigning from his post with the team. He will, however, remain as the coach of the boys team. The following is an excerpt from the press release he issued:It has been my honor and privilege to have coached in the girls’ program for three seasons and guided them as head coach for the 2007 and 2008 campaigns. I am very proud of the consistent staff that worked with our student/athletes and the character of … [Read more...]
McLaughlin inks two big-time recruits
Friday, December 12, 2008 By Leave a Comment
First-year head coach Rick McLaughlin wasted no time hitting the recruiting trail this summer and it paid off as the UC Santa Barbara men’s volleyball team recently received National Letters of Intent from two highly-touted recruits – middle blocker Dylan Davis (Corona del Mar, Calif./Corona del Mar High School) and setter Oliver Deutschman (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Crossroads School) – that will don the blue and gold for the 2010 season. … [Read more...]
