The Gauchos started a five-match, week-long road trip by defeating the Portland State Vikings 3-1, (25-22, 25-21, 16-25, 25-19).
With the victory, the Gauchos are now 7-0 all-time against Portland St. The win pushes the Gauchos to 5-2 overall on the 2012 campaign and 3-1 on the road.
The UCSB middles were the story of the match. Freshman middle blocker Britton Taylor led the team with 14 kills, and finished with an astounding .591 hitting percentage. Junior middle blocker Jenna Wilson chipped in a season-high 8 kills of her own and led the team with five blocks.
The 20 combined kills between Wilson and Taylor were the most that the duo have recorded in a single match this season.
Finding the middles on the slide and the quick-strike was sophomore setter Ali Santi, who is quickly establishing herself as a talent to watch in the Big West. Santi had 47 assists in the match, the most she has recorded in a match four sets or shorter this year.
Junior outside hitters Leah Sully and Kara Sherrard both recorded double-doubles in the match. Sully had 11 kills and 19 digs, while Sherrard had 10 kills and 11 digs.
Freshman libero Taylor Formico, who already leads the Big West Conference in digs per game, picked up another 31 digs, the second time she has recorded 30 or more in the last four matches.
The Vikings were led by Jaklyn Wheeler, who led all players with 19 kills while leading her team in digs with 22.
The Gauchos will play one more match in Oregon before heading to New Mexico for the Sheraton Hotel/Comcast Lobo Invitational Tournament in Albuquerque. UCSB faces off against the Oregon Ducks at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night, Sep. 5.
