SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The No. 15 UC Santa Barbara Men’s Volleyball team faced off against No. 8 BYU in a rematch and, despite a stronger effort, lost 3-0 again.
Game Overview
The match started strong for the Gauchos. They were neck and neck with the Cougars, tying at 7-7. BYU then surged ahead to 15-9. The Gauchos rallied, closing the gap and tying the set at 24-24. They even pushed the set into overtime, but BYU scored the final points, taking it 29-27. Ben Pearson shone in this set, hitting perfectly on his attacks.
In the second set, Santa Barbara briefly led 17-15. However, BYU quickly fought back and ultimately won 25-20. The Gauchos struggled in the third set, falling again 25-20. They had a brief spark at 18-16 but couldn’t sustain it. Freshman Ryan Pilkvist showcased his skills with two successful hits, while Owen Loncar contributed four kills.
In this match, Josh Aruya stood out defensively with six blocks, and Cole Schobel led in digs with five.
This week’s matches highlight the team’s resilience and potential. They play next at Cal Lutheran on February 5, followed by a game at USC on February 7.
In related news, fans have taken to social media, expressing support for the Gauchos. Tweets and posts reflect a mix of hope and determination as the team strives to improve.
For updated match statistics and team insights, you can check the official UC Santa Barbara Gauchos site.
By acknowledging past performances and building on them, the Gauchos aim to turn their season around and finish strong.
