Go ahead and pick one. Was it Rebecca Saraceno’s 27 kills, just two off her career-high? Was it Chelsey Lowe’s career-best 26 digs? How about Stacey Schmidt’s nine kills and career-high five block assists? Or Kasey Kipp’s season-best six block assists? Maybe Dana Vargas’ 46 assists and career-high four service aces?
It’s hard to decipher which one meant the most to the UCSB women’s volleyball team on Tuesday night, but one thing is for sure – the way everything came together, Pepperdine didn’t stand a chance.
The Gauchos rolled to a 25-23, 25-23, 28-30, 25-17 victory in a match-up of a pair of teams receiving votes in the Top-25 poll as UCSB improved to 13-4 overall. Six of the Gauchos’ wins have come at home where the team is a perfect 6-0. Pepperdine falls to 10-7.
Saraceno notched her 11th double-double of the season, tallying 16 digs as the senior outside hitter was the lone Gaucho in double-digit kills. Schmidt had nine, Charlene DeHoog added seven and Lily Lopez and Kipp each had six.
Leah Sully had 10 digs, joining Lowe and Saraceno in double-digit digs.
After winning the first two sets, the Gauchos had to rally to even have a chance in the third. UCSB faced three different six-point deficits early before falling behind 20-12. Sully went back to serve and with three kills from Saraceno, an ace and three Waves errors, the Gauchos had tied the third set.
The two teams went back and forth until Pepperdine outlasted the Gauchos, but it wore the Waves down enough that UCSB cruised in the fourth set.
At 6-6 in the fourth Vargas served five straight points – including three aces – allowing the Gauchos to roll to their second straight win.
UCSB continues its homestand this Friday when it hosts Pacific at the Thunderdome at 7 p.m. That match will also mark UCSB Athletics’ first Legend of the ‘Dome celebration as a former women’s volleyball athlete will be honored prior to the match. The Legends of the ‘Dome series will continue through the men’s and women’s basketball seasons, with a total of five Gaucho greats honored in the inaugural Legends of the ‘Dome celebration.
Note: Pepperdine freshman Caitlin Racich, a Dos Pueblos graduate, got in the game Tuesday and had three kills with three digs and two blocks assists.
