The UCSB women’s volleyball team finished off the USD Invitational on a high note Saturday night, defeating San Diego State, 3-2, in Peterson Gym. Set scores were 26-24, 20-25, 24-26, 25-18, and 15-12.
The Gauchos used a .304 team hitting percentage in the final frame to complete the comeback, converting on 61 percent of its side-out opportunities while committing only two errors. The win snaps a two-match losing streak.
Charlene DeHoog registered a double-double on the evening, connecting on 18 of her match-high 63 attack attempts while scooping 10 digs. Stacey Schmidt had 15 kills and led the squad with a .429 hitting percentage. Kelly Heenan tallied 26 digs while Dana Vargas dished-out 51 assists.
Three Aztecs finished with double digit kill totals on the night, yet Kyley Sexton (25), Lauren Salisbury (11) and Andrea Hannasch (10) could only help SDSU to an overall .184 team hitting percentage.
Earlier in the day, former Santa Barbara High star Mimi Cuttrell posted a team-high nine kills in UCSB’s three-set loss to No. 23-ranked San Diego at Jenny Craig Pavilion. The set scores were 28-26, 25-23, 25-11.
With the loss, the Gauchos fall to 5-6 overall while the Toreros improve to 7-3 having won their fifth consecutive contest.
Cuttrell also and four digs and a pair of blocks. All-American setter Dana Vargas dished out 30 assists on the day while also connecting on all five of her attack attempts. Lily Lopez topped the Gauchos with a .333 (4-1-9) hitting percentage while Stacey Schmidt swung at a .238 (8-3-21) clip.
For USD, outside hitter Ali Troost led all players with her 17 kills on 25 swings, posting a .680 attack percentage with no errors. Chloe Ferrari and Ashton Basch also recorded double-digit kills with 10 apiece. Amy Mahinalani DeGroot scooped a match-best 20 digs and Kelsi Myers recorded 39 assists.
