It was a matchup of top-10 teams at J.R. Richards Gym on Saturday afternoon, with Loyola’s No. 3 side outlasting No. 6 Santa Barbara 25-15, 25-20, 25-27, 25-23 in the Division I battle.
Dons head coach Chad Arneson thought his team played well, almost well enough to get Santa Barbara (6-4) its best win of the season.
“We just need to learn how to finish teams when we have to,” he said. “In the long run, I think it’s going to help us having these tough matches.”
The Cubs are the defending CIF champions.
Holden Ploch played outside hitter for the first time this season and tallied a team-high 15 kills along with two blocks.
“He usually plays middle and I put him outside for the first time,” Arneson explained. “He did a fantastic job for us.”
Casey Slaught’s 14 kills were second-most for the Dons. Ryan Worley handed out 41 assists as the starting setter.
Santa Barbara moves into Channel League play this coming week starting on Tuesday at San Marcos.
