The No. 8 UC Santa Barbara Men’s Volleyball team lost to No. 2 Hawai’i 3-1 in the first match of a weekend series. The Gauchos started strong, initially leading 3-0, but fell behind in the first set due to a late surge from the Rainbow Warriors. Despite bouncing back with a win in the third set, the Gauchos couldn't clinch a second set victory, losing the fourth by just three points. Both teams recorded similar statistics, highlighting a closely contested match.

By the Numbers
  • Both teams had 50 kills and 49 assists.
  • UCSB outperformed Hawai'i in hitting percentage at .240 compared to .219.
State of Play
  • The Gauchos forced a tie at 23-23 in the fourth set but ultimately lost on match point.
  • George Bruening led UCSB with 15 kills, while Riggs Guy contributed 11 kills.
What's Next

UCSB will face Hawai'i in a rematch on Saturday, March 28, aiming to bounce back and secure a win.

Bottom Line

The Gauchos demonstrated strong potential but need to maintain consistency throughout the match to compete against top-ranked teams like Hawai'i.