LONG BEACH, Calif. – After losing a first set that went into extra points, UC Santa Barbara (6-13, 2-6) fell at Long Beach State (16-5, 6-2) 3-0 on Friday night in the Walter Pyramid. Game scores were 26-24, 25-18, 25-18.
The Gauchos’ offense was led by their middles Phoebe Grunt and Elizabeth Sheffield who each finished with nine kills apiece. Both registered solid hitting percentages as will with Grunt ending the night at .429 and Sheffield swinging at a .375 clip.
UCSB outblocked the 49ers 4-2, as Jaylen Villanueva and Sheffield co-led the match with three block assists each. In the dig category, Emilia Petrachi was the Gauchos’ leader with 13 scoops.
The match opened with a tight 26-24 first set that the 49ers were able to pull out ahead in with a late push. The Gauchos were reeling early in busting out of the gates with a 7-2 run, which prompted Long Beach State to use its first timeout. Long Beach State made four total errors, while the Gauchos saw Sheffield, Taylor, and Villanueva put away kills in the run. Sheffield in particular was strong in that game, as she picked up four kills on her five swings.
UCSB maintained its edge through most of the set, but the 49ers cut the lead down to 22-20. Villanueva came through with a pair of kills to give the Gauchos game point at 24-23. Long Beach State, however, was able to close out the set on a 3-0 run, taking the set 26-24.
The Gauchos had a slow start to the second game in falling behind 7-3, but the team was spurred on by a kill from Barbeau which led to a 10-3 run. Barbeau added another kill later in the run, while Grunt also registered a pair of kills in back-to-back points. UCSB’s play at the net was strong in that stretch with two blocks and three 49er attacking errors. Villanueva was involved in both blocks, as she aided middles Grunt and Sheffield.
With the 14-10 lead, UCSB stayed ahead until a Lindsey Lawmaster ace put LBSU back in front at 17-16. Sheffield and Taylor registered a kill each down the stretch, but Long Beach State never gave up the lead in finishing the game 25-18.
The 49ers took the third game with the same score, as their offense hit at a .472 clip.
UCSB will continue its weekend on the road at Cal State Northridge tomorrow at 7 p.m.
