The No. 2 UCLA men's volleyball team improved to 3-0 on the season after posting a sweep against No. 7 UC Santa Barbara (1-2) in the Gaucho's Asics Invitational on Saturday night. Scores of the match were 26-24, 25-16, 25-14. The Bruins outhit UCSB .424 to .082 on the night with Ethan Champlin leading a balanced attack with 10 kills and three aces.
The Gauchos moved out to a 4-8 advantage to begin set one. UCLA closed to 7-9 after a Merrick McHenry kill. Down 9-12, the Bruins tallied four straight points capped off by back-to-back Guy Genis/Grant Sloane blocks to go up 13-12. The score was then tied up at points 13 through 23. A Champlin kill saved a set point at 23-24 and tied the score. A UCSB attack error and another Champlin smash decided the set for the Bruins at 26-24.
UCLA outscored the Gauchos 5-1 to break a 5-5 tie and opened up a 10-6 edge on a Miles Partain ace in set two. Grant Sloane's swing made it 15-9. After Alex Knight served four straight points the Bruins were ahead 21-12. A McHenry kill lifted the Bruins into a 22-15 lead. A block by Champlin/Genis advanced the Bruins to set point, at 24-16. UCLA captured the set following a Gaucho error for a 25-16 win.
The Bruins surged to a 7-3 advantage to begin set two. McHenry served up six straight points to put UCLA up 14-5. A Champlin swing left the Bruins up 17-8. McHenry's kill upped the lead to 21-12. A series of service errors finished out the set with the Bruins taking a 25-14 victory.
Three Bruins were named to the UCSB Asics Invitational All-Tournament Team -- Ethan Champlin (MVP), Troy Gooch, Miles Partain. UCLA will return home to play No. 15 Princeton on Saturday, Jan. 14, on Collins Court in the John Wooden Center at 6 p.m.
The Gauchos moved out to a 4-8 advantage to begin set one. UCLA closed to 7-9 after a Merrick McHenry kill. Down 9-12, the Bruins tallied four straight points capped off by back-to-back Guy Genis/Grant Sloane blocks to go up 13-12. The score was then tied up at points 13 through 23. A Champlin kill saved a set point at 23-24 and tied the score. A UCSB attack error and another Champlin smash decided the set for the Bruins at 26-24.
UCLA outscored the Gauchos 5-1 to break a 5-5 tie and opened up a 10-6 edge on a Miles Partain ace in set two. Grant Sloane's swing made it 15-9. After Alex Knight served four straight points the Bruins were ahead 21-12. A McHenry kill lifted the Bruins into a 22-15 lead. A block by Champlin/Genis advanced the Bruins to set point, at 24-16. UCLA captured the set following a Gaucho error for a 25-16 win.
The Bruins surged to a 7-3 advantage to begin set two. McHenry served up six straight points to put UCLA up 14-5. A Champlin swing left the Bruins up 17-8. McHenry's kill upped the lead to 21-12. A series of service errors finished out the set with the Bruins taking a 25-14 victory.
Three Bruins were named to the UCSB Asics Invitational All-Tournament Team -- Ethan Champlin (MVP), Troy Gooch, Miles Partain. UCLA will return home to play No. 15 Princeton on Saturday, Jan. 14, on Collins Court in the John Wooden Center at 6 p.m.