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No. 5 Seed UC San Diego 3, No. 4 Seed Santa Barbara 0

Championship Central >>> | Box Score | UCSD presser | UCSB presser
IRVINE, Calif. — Opening the action at The Hawaiian presents the 2026 Outrigger Big West Men’s Volleyball Championship, No. 5 seed UC San Diego swept through fourth-seeded UC Santa Barbara to win the back-to-back rematch.

The Tritons delivered a strong offensive performance with a .337 hitting percentage, including nine service aces. The Gauchos managed 37 kills but were held to a .223 hitting percentage, as UCSD’s defense recorded 10 total blocks with set scores of 25-19, 25-22, 25-22 from the Bren Events Center. The win was their first in three tries in the 2026 campaign, with UCSB victorious in five in the previous two outings, including a senior day affair in La Jolla to close the regular season just five days agao.

Win the win, UC San Diego improves to 13-13 on the season and advances to face defending champions and No. 1 seed Hawai’i in the semifinals on Friday at 5 p.m.

UCSD took control of the first set with a decisive 25-19 victory over UCSB, fueled by strong serving and a solid defensive presence. Cameron Wurl’s playmaking was instrumental, as he assisted on multiple key kills, including those by Sebastiano Sani and Josh Ewert. The Tritons’ serving was a game-changer, evidenced by three aces, while their defense forced several attack errors from UCSB. This combination of effective serving and defensive pressure established a commanding lead that UCSD maintained throughout the set.

The second frame featured a strong start by UCSB, with Ethan Saint and Josh Aruya contributing key kills to establish an early 4-0 lead. UCSD responded with a series of scoring plays, including two kills by Ewert that gave the Tritons the 19-17 advantage. The Gauchos responded with a string of four straight, including two aces for All-Big West selection George Bruening to get back on the high side at 21-19. UCSD finished off the set with a 6-1 run and the Tritons’ defensive efforts were highlighted by a crucial block from Wurl and Jim Garrison, helping them take control in the final moments, taking the set 25-22.

The Tritons clinched the third set 25-22, capitalizing on a series of key offensive plays. Wurl facilitated the attack with multiple assists, setting up Ewert and Sani for crucial kills. Service errors plagued the Gauchos, as they committed six throughout the set, hindering their ability to maintain momentum. The Tritons’ defense also played a crucial role, with a pivotal block by Garrison, Wurl, and Leo Pravednikov on Saint at 18-17. Despite a late rally by UCSB, culminating in a kill by Cole Schobel that brought them within one point at 22-21, the Tritons held firm. A Sani strike from the service line closed out the match and sent the Tritons fans into a frenzy as the team is enjoying their first back-to-back Big West semifinals appearances. 

Wurl stood out for UCSD with impressive playmaking, recording 32 assists and contributing significantly to the team’s blocking efforts with six total denials to go along with a pair of aces. Ewert led the team in scoring with 14.5 points, thanks to 13 kills on a .320 hitting with seven digs. Sani was a key offensive player, contributing 10 kills and three service aces, accumulating 13.5 points. Garrison excelled defensively with five total blocks, disrupting the UCSB attack. 

Saint emerged as a key player for the Gauchos, leading the team with 16.0 points with 13 kills, eight digs and four blocks. Bruening added nine kills on .304 hitting and Aruya added six kills and three blocks.  UCSB caps the season at 14-12 and ranked 11th in the most recent AVCA poll. 

Gallery: (4-23-2026) 2026 MVB First Round – UCSD vs. UCSB