RIVERSIDE – The UCSB women’s volleyball team finished the regular season with a three-game sweep of UC Riverside, 25-19, 25-22, 25-21 on Saturday night at UCR’s Student Recreation Center.
Senior Charlene DeHoog had 15 kills and 10 digs in her final regular-season match for the Gauchos, who improved to 16-13 overall and 10-6 in the Big West. UCR falls to 2-30, 0-16.
Stacey Schmidt added 11 kills and three block assists as senior setter Dana Vargas passed out 34 assists. Junior Chelsey Lowe had 29 digs, one off her career-high which she set last weekend vs. Pacific.
UC Riverside was down 3-1 early in the first set, but went on a 6-2 run to take a 7-5 lead capped off by a Simpson kill. The Gauchos held UCR scoreless over the next four points as they retook the lead 9-7.
The Highlanders stayed within four points and even got to within one, 18-17, late in the set, but UC Santa Barbara ended on a 7-2 run to win set one 25-19.
Tied at 11 in the second set, the Gauchos scored four straight and six of seven to open up a 17-12 lead. The Highlanders then turned the tables as they went on a 5-1 run to get within one, 18-17, on an Amanda Vialpando kill.
UCSB never let UCR closer than that, however, as they scored six points to the Highlanders two, taking a 24-19 set-point advantage. UC Riverside didn’t give up though as they ran off three straight points to close the gap to 24-22, but a Kara Sherrard kill gave the Gauchos the 25-22 win. Sherrard finished with seven kills.
UCR took a 3-0 lead early in the third set, and maintained it at 7-4, but the Gauchos rallied for seven straight to take an 11-7 margin.
The Highlanders tied the set at 20 late in the frame, but couldn’t take a lead as UCSB won 25-21.
