Senior outside hitter Rebecca Saraceno was named the Big West’s Player of the Week, the conference announced on Monday. Saraceno led the Gauchos to a pair of wins this past weekend over No. 15 San Diego. It is her first-ever Big West Player of the Week honor.
In the first match on Friday night vs. the Toreros, Saraceno notched 24 kills in 34 swings, resulting in an incredible .676 hitting percentage. The 24 putaways were one off the Redondo Beach native’s career high. Also in that match, in which the Gauchos won three games to one, Saraceno had six digs and three block assists.
The second match of the weekend against San Diego brought more striking results from Saraceno. She notched a team-best 16 kills and four block assists while also digging six balls in UCSB’s 3-2 win. Her pair of kills near the end of the fifth set helped turn the tide, allowing UCSB to come back from a 13-10 deficit and rally for a 15-13 win, to snatch the match.
Saraceno has helped the Gauchos open the season 4-1, their best start since 2004 when they won eight straight to open the year. All four of UCSB’s wins this season have come against teams that went to the 2008 NCAA playoffs. UCSB is now receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll.
Last week, after leading the Gauchos to a 2-1 start, Saraceno was named the UCSBgauchos.com Athlete of the Week when she tallied 44 kills and 32 digs in the MCM Elegante Lobo Classic in New Mexico.
UCSB officially opens its home schedule on Wednesday, Sept. 16 when they face Santa Clara at The Thunderdome.
