UCSB was swept by Cal Baptist in a nonconference men’s volleyball match on Thursday in Riverside. The game scores were 25-17, 25-20, 25-19.
Gaucho coach Rick McLaughlin used the match to try out different player combinations. Eleven players saw action.
Absent from the lineup were mainstays Vince Devany, Cullen Irons, and Dylan Davis, while sophomore setter Oliver Deutschman and senior middle blocker Wyatt Thomson got to see time on the floor.
Deutschman thrived in his first start of the season, setting a new career high with 25 assists. Freshman setter Chad Kingi, who started for the Gauchos at the libero position, had a match and career-high seven digs. Senior outside hitter Todd Travis had six kills with an ace, while junior outside hitter Blaine Nielsen chipped in five more kills to go along with his ace.
Senior outside hitter Jeff Menzel finished the night with 10 kills on a .500 hitting percentage to keep his double-digit kills streak alive. Menzel has recorded 10 or more kills in 14 straight matches, and 19 of 22 overall.
The Lancers (20-5) were led by Levi Cabral and Sebastien Steigmeier, who had 11 kills apiece. Cabral had a .667 hitting percentage to go along with five digs. Cal Baptist hit .493 as a team.
On the other end, UCSB (12-10) hit only .188 as a team.
The Gauchos will host UC San Diego on Thursday, Mar. 31, and UC Irvine on Friday, Apr. 1- both matches at Rob Gym.
