Kara Sherrard recorded a double-double and Stacey Schmidt again led the UCSB women’s volleyball team in kills, as the duo helped the Gauchos to a sweep over UC Irvine on Saturday night at the Bren Events Center.
Match scores were 25-20, 25-22, 25-20. The victory was the Gauchos’ first sweep over UC Irvine since Oct. 1, 2005.
Sherrard recorded 11 kills and 13 digs for UCSB, which has won three straight and improves to 8-6 overall and 2-0 in the Big West. A night after recording a career-high 23 kills, Schmidt had 12 for Santa Barbara.
Kelly Heenan had 16 digs for UCSB while senior Charlene DeHoog had 15 pick-ups to go with eight kills. Senior setter Dana Vargas handed out 36 assists, while recording eight digs.
The Gauchos dominated the match, never trailing by more than two points and that occurred only once – when UCSB fell behind 5-3 in the third set. UCSB held the Anteaters (4-10, 0-2) to a meager .142 hitting percentage.
Freshman Katey Thompson had six kills in eight swings for the Gauchos while Kasey Kipp had five putaways.
UCSB will host Long Beach State on Friday, Oct. 1 at the Thunderdome when the Gauchos will unveil the latest Legend of the ‘Dome.
