San Diego — UCSB fell to USC (3-1) and San Diego (3-0) in concluding the USD Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Saturday.
Despite the losses against top-10 teams, Katey Thompson was voted to the all-tournament team for her offensive play.
Thompson led the Gauchos overall with 39 kills and finished the tournament with a solid .392 kill percentage. At the net, the senior opposite also added six total blocks. Her marquee outing in San Diego came during UCSB’s tournament debut when she paced the floor with 12 kills and three service aces in a 3-0 route over Eastern Washington.
Against USC, UCSB took the first set, but the Women of Troy bounced back to win the next three. Thompson compiled the most kills for the Gauchos with 17. Leah Sully finished behind her fellow senior with 10 and also added 17 digs, recording her fifth double-double of the season.
Phoebe Grunt had a career outing with her match-high 11 block assists. It is the first time the freshman has reached double-digits in blocks this season.
In their match against USD, the Gauchos were facing the top kills team in the country. The Toreros hit .382 collectively in a 3-0 win over UCSB.
Ali Barbeau and Thompson led the Gaucho attacking effort with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. UCSB also put up the most total blocks in the match at 10, with Grunt’s five block assists pacing the team.
The Gauchos will look to jump back into the win column next week at the Wildcat Classic in Tucson, Ariz. UCSB will open tournament play against Wofford on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
