It took 23 years for UCSB to get revenge on USC and the Gauchos did it in grand style on Thursday night in the NCAA men's volleyball semifinals at Penn State.Dylan Davis and Cullen Irons recorded 15 kills apiece as the No. 4-seeded Gauchos stunned top-ranked USC 3-1 for the second time in six days. The scores were 29-27, 24-26, 25-15, 25-18.Davis, a 6-9 sophomore middle blocker on a senior-laden squad, set an NCAA Tournament record with his sizzling .882 hitting percentage. His 15 … [Read more...]
Gauchos have thrived in playoff pressure cooker
Wednesday, May 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
It’s not about magic, UCSB men’s volleyball coach Rick McLaughlin said of his team’s run to the NCAA Final Four.“I think it’s just the drive of our guys,” McLaughlin told the media at a Final Four press conference at Penn State, where his 17-14 Gauchos will play top-seeded USC (23-3) in Thursday’s first semifinal at 4 p.m. (PT) on ESPN2.Ohio State (24-6) and Penn State (24-6) meet in the second semifinal at 7 p.m. Like the Gauchos and Trojans, the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions … [Read more...]
Gauchos take down USC, earn trip to Final Four
Saturday, April 30, 2011 By 2 Comments
LOS ANGELES — UCSB’s seniors refused to lose.As a result, the Gauchos are going to the NCAA Final Four at Penn State.UCSB’s senior-laden men’s volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit and upset No. 1-ranked USC in the MPSF Tournament Final on Saturday night at the Galen Center. The scores were 20-25, 25-23, 21-23, 25-18, 16-14.The win sends the Gauchos to their first Final Four since 1988. USC will join them there as the regular season champion of the MPSF. Penn State and … [Read more...]
