Middle blockers Sam Moisenco and Scott Slaughter led No. 13 UCSB past unranked Pacific in three sets Friday in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) men’s volleyball action at Robertson Gymnasium. Scores were 30-26, 30-23, and 30-17 in favor of the Gauchos, who snapped a four-match losing slide with their second win over the Tigers this season.
UCSB improved to 4-8 overall and 2-7 in league play. Pacific, still without an MPSF victory, fell to 2-14 overall and 0-11 in the league.
Slaughter led the Gauchos with a match-high 12 kills while hitting .625 (12-2-16). Moisenco hit a career-high .778 (7-0-9), the best attack percentage posted by a Gaucho this season. The two middles totaled 12 blocks, with seven going to Slaughter and five attributed to Moisenco. Outside hitter Jeff Menzel had 11 kills and five blocks. It was just the second match of the year that Menzel didn’t lead the team in kills.
“We need to be a team that’s a little more balanced, instead of counting on getting it to Menzel everytime,” said UCSB head coach Rick McLaughlin. “And, I think we did that tonight.”
Pacific was led by Sean Daley, Jeff Hendershot, and Jason Borchin, who each chipped in six kills apiece. The Tigers struggled on the offensive end, being out-hit in all three sets to total a mere .122 (31-20-90) attack percentage for the match.
UCSB out-blocked Pacific 13 to 5.5. As a team, the Gauchos posted an impressive .453 (49-10-86) hitting percentage, breaking their previous season-high of .350.
UCSB hosts No. 7 Stanford on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are available via walk-up at Robertson Gymnasium one hour prior to the start of the match.
“It’s going to be a good match,” said McLaughlin. “We’re ready to put up a fight.”
