On the first day of the 51st annual UCSB Asics Invitational, fourth-ranked UC Santa Barbara recorded decisive sweeps of non-conference opponents Limestone and Princeton to remain unbeaten on the young season.
The host team (3-0) outright dominated both of its foes on Friday, allowing neither to reach the 20-point mark in any set. The Gauchos have now won the first nine sets of their season and have held their opponent to 19 points or less in seven of nine frames.
It is also the second straight season that UCSB has won its first three games of the year.
The Gauchos will wrap up tournament play tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. as they face off against No. 15 IPFW. The Mastodons’ coach, volleyball legend Arnie Ball, will be honored pregame as he makes his final appearance in Santa Barbara before his planned retirement at the end of the season.
UC Santa Barbara vs. Princeton Recap
Holding a comfortbale lead for the majority of the contest against the Tigers, UCSB head coach Rick McLaughlin used the opportunity to give most of his active players time on the floor.
Senior middle blocker Jake Staahl, one of just two Gauchos to appear in all three sets, was a driving force for the Gauchos, recording seven kills on just nine swings (.778) along with a pair of service aces. His partner in the middle, junior Ryan Hardy, matched Staahl’s seven kill-ouput while co-leading all players with three blocks.
Senior outside hitter Kevin Donohue had a strong attacking performance for the second straight day, notching a match-high nine kills in just two sets of action and on just 12 swings.
For the third time in as many matches, the Gauchos completely controlled the pass-serve game, holding Princeton without an ace while racking up eight of their own. Junior setter Jonah Seif was the chief culprit at the service line, recording a match-high three aces.
Other standout cameos included senior outside hitter Vaun Lennon’s five-kill second set, Hardy’s five-kill third, and sophomore setter Derrico Kwa’s 11-assist output in just over a game of playing time.
The UCSB attack was remarkably consistent throughout. As a team, they hit a season-high .468 for the match, including exact .500 clips in the final two games.
UC Santa Barbara vs. Limestone Recap
The Gauchos needed just 65 minutes to sweep Conference Carolinas member Limestone in their first match of the 51st annual UCSB Asics Invitational, 25-14, 25-14, 25-19.
UCSB hit a blistering .388 as a team, including a .765 clip in the second game. The team improved to 2-0 following Thursday’s win over St. Francis. It was the first match of the season for Limestone.
In addition, the Gauchos recorded 12 aces on the night, the most by the team since Jan. 9, 2009 (15 vs. Pacific).
Though no player reached double digits in kills on either side, UCSB dominated thanks to contributions from hitters up and down the roster.
Junior opposite Matt Marsh led the way with nine kills, but Spencer Buckley (six kills), Vaun Lennon (four), and Weston Nielsen (three kills in one set of action) all helped out as well.
Marsh was the go-to man for UCSB at the service line as well, ripping a career-high five service aces in the contest. Lennon added a career-high three of his own while Nielsen chipped in another two.
The Gauchos’ front row players were a force as well, feasting on the Saints’ over passes to the tune of five kills for Jake Staahl and four for Ryan Hardy. Junior All-American setter Jonah Seif was successful with the dump, recording five kills while dishing out 21 assists over his two-and-a-half sets of work.
On the other side of the net, Eric Zaun (team-leading nine kills and .200 hitting percentage) was the key offensive option for the Saints. The Gauchos’ defensive efforts stymied all the other Limestone players however, as only one other player besides Zaun finished with a positive hitting percentage.
