SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — No. 13 BYU fell in a clean sweep to No. 6 UC Santa Barbara on Friday in the Robertson Gymnasium (21-25, 18-25, 23-25), putting the Cougars on a four-match losing streak. 

BYU now holds a 5-6 overall record this season, including an 0-3 record on the road. 

Offensively, the Gauchos racked up 36 kills and a .253 hitting percentage, compared to BYU’s 31 kills and .150 clip. The Cougars tallied 19 attack errors and 14 service errors to give UCSB an edge. Additionally, UCSB outblocked BYU 11-4.

UCSB’s junior outside hitter Ryan Wilcox and an Off the Block Preseason All-America Second Team member, led the match with 11 kills and a .250 clip. For the Cougars, senior outside hitter Davide Gardini tallied eight kills and a .190 clip.

SET ONE
The Gauchos started the set with a 2-0 lead after a kill by UCSB’s Dayne Chalmers. Two kills by Gardini put the Cougars on the board, trailing 4-3. The teams traded errors, allowing UCSB to keep a slight edge. Sophomore middle blocker Gavin Julien contributed three quick kills, but two BYU service errors maintained UCSB’s 13-10 lead.

Two kills apiece by freshman outside hitter Miks Ramanis and freshman opposite hitter Anthony Cherfan nearly tied the match, getting to 17-16. A UCSB service error and another Cherfan kill tied the set for the first time at 18-18.

Five detrimental BYU attack errors extended the Gauchos lead to 25-21, taking the first set-win. UCSB managed a .250 hitting percentage compared to BYU’s .176.

SET TWO
BYU started off with a 2-1 lead after Cherfan’s fifth kill of the night and an ace by Ramanis. A service error by the Cougars paired with an ace and a kill by UCSB’s Dain Johnson allowed the Gauchos to take the lead at 4-3. A block by Julien and Cherfan tied the match. 

This started a kill streak on both sides, including two by Gardini and Ramanis. However, another two BYU errors created the largest margin of the set at 11-6. Freshman outside hitter Luke Benson made an appearance and laid down a quick kill. Wilcox then answered with three kills, tallying eight for the match. 

A 5-0 run by UCSB, including two aces by Rees Barnett and two kills by Donovan Todorov, widened the gap to 21-14. Two more kills and two BYU errors secured the Gauchos their second set-win at 25-18.

SET THREE
UCSB began the set with a 3-0 lead, including two BYU errors. Senior opposite hitter Alex Ah Sue tallied a kill and started the Cougars on a 3-0 run to tie the match. The teams tied three more times until UCSB pulled away at 10-7 with two kills. BYU battled back with a 4-0 run, thanks to an ace by Gardini and a kill by freshman middle blocker Alessandro Gianotti. This put BYU in the lead at 11-10.

The Gauchos matched BYU’s run, putting up four consecutive points, now leading 14-11. The teams traded errors and kills, until a 3-0 run by BYU stopped UCSB’s momentum at 20-17. The run featured a kill and an ace by Julien. Sophomore setter Zeo Meyer followed Julien, putting up his own ace and kill. 

Three momentum-shifting errors by UCSB diminished its lead and tied the match at 22-22, giving BYU a chance. A killing spree commenced, but ultimately BYU’s 14th service error sealed the sweep for UCSB at 25-23.

Up next, BYU will have another chance to face UCSB on Saturday, Feb. 19 in the Robertson Gymnasium at 7 p.m. PST.

PROVO, Utah — No. 13 BYU men’s volleyball hits the road for its second series away from home this season, facing No. 6 UC Santa Barbara in the Robertson Gymnasium on Friday, Feb. 18 and Saturday, Feb. 19. 

The teams first faced each other in 1990 and the Cougars lead the all-time series 44-24. The Gauchos and Cougars last faced each other in 2020, when BYU brought home two consecutive wins. 

No. 13 Brigham Young University Cougars (5-5, 0-0 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation)

• Last weekend, BYU faced UC San Diego. The Cougars held a 44-0 all-time record against the Tritons, with UCSD winning just 13 total sets in those 44 matches. UC San Diego walked away with two tight, 3-2 victories last weekend, going down to the wire both nights. 
• Senior outside hitter Davide Gardini led the way offensively last Friday, putting down 23 kills. That tied his career-high kill tally that he set back on April 13, 2019 against Stanford. He also had three aces.
• Nationally, BYU ranks No. 16 in blocks per set (2.107), No. 18 in team attacks per set (26.26), No. 19 in hitting percentage (.280), No. 21 in assists per set (11.02) and No. 23 in kills per set (11.74).
• Gardini ranks No. 15 in the NCAA in attacks per set (7.94), No. 23 in points per set (4.01) and No. 27 in kills per set (3.35).
• Out of BYU’s 10 matches this season, head coach Shawn Olmstead has had eight different starting lineups, as the Cougars continue to rebuild after losing five starters from last season.
• The Cougars finished the 2021 season with a 20-4 record, its eighth MPSF conference championship title, a trip to the NCAA national championship game and a No. 2 national ranking.

No. 6 University of California, Santa Barbara Gauchos (7-4, 0-0 Big West Conference)

• Last weekend, UC Santa Barbara posted victories on the road against Grand Canyon University (3-2, 3-2).
• Coming into the 2022 season, the Gauchos received a No. 11 pre-season ranking in the AVCA.
• Junior outside hitter Ryan Wilcox was named to the Off the Block Preseason All-America Second Team.
• On Monday, sophomore libero Ryan Pecsok was named Off the Block National Libero of the Week as well as the Big West Defensive Player of the Week.
• Sophomore middle blocker Donovan Todorov ranks No. 2 in the NCAA in blocks per set (1.389).
• Sophomore setter Patrick Paragas ranks No. 11 in the NCAA in assists per set (9.62).
• In the NCAA, UCSB ranks No. 11 in blocks per set (2.333), No. 15 in digs per set (8.78), No. 18 in match winning percentage (.636), No. 22 in hitting percentage (.274) and No. 25 in assists per set (10.62).

BROADCAST INFORMATION – Feb. 18

• Time: 7 p.m. PST
• Live Stream: ESPN+
• Live Stats: Statbroadcast

BROADCAST INFORMATION – Feb. 19

• Time: 7 p.m. PST
• Live Stream: ESPN+
• Live Stats: Statbroadcast

ATTENDANCE INFORMATION

In accordance with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), regarding COVID-19, UC Santa Barbara athletic indoor events will require all spectators in attendance to show proof of their full vaccination status or provide a pre-entry negative COVID-19 test within two days for PCR tests or within one day of antigen tests. Face coverings will be required for all, regardless of vaccination status.