Next Match:
Cal State Bakersfield
11/13/2026 | 6 PM
Nov. 13 (Fri) / 6 PM
Cal State Bakersfield
SACRAMENTO—UC San Diego women’s volleyball dropped a five-set battle to Sacramento State on Saturday afternoon at The Nest. The Tritons (11-14, 7-7 Big West) nearly pulled off a reverse sweep, ultimately falling by set scores of 20-25, 18-25, 25-23, 27-25, 15-17. The Tritons forced the deciding set by erasing a 24-22 deficit in the fourth, but the Hornets (14-11, 9-5 Big West) took the fifth 17-15.
Molly McCluskey led the Tritons with 15 kills, 18.5 points and five total blocks. Gia Rivera added 12 kills, a team-high four service aces and 16.5 points and Ireland McNees also finished with 12 points. Brynne McGhie finished with 36 assists and 10 digs. Paulina Baillie collected a team-high 17 digs and added four assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first set, the Tritons erased a three-point deficit midway through, getting a McCluskey kill, a Madison Johnson kill and a Hayden Shanafelt ace to tie the Hornets at 13-13. The Tritons stayed within 22-20 on a Sac State service error, but the Hornets scored the final three points to take the set 25-20.
The Hornets moved in front early in the second set and stretched the advantage to as many as 20-11. The Tritons found points late from a Lucia Barroso kill and blocks involving McCluskey, Barroso and Johnson, but Sac State finished off the set 25-18.
In the third set, the Tritons built an early 6-1 advantage behind a pair of aces by Rivera. UC San Diego extended its advantage 13-4 with service pressure from McNees midway through the set. The Hornets battled back to tie the set at 19-19 after a seven point scoring run by the home team. The Tritons held on to close out a 25-23 win to extend the match.
The Tritons erased the Hornets’ 24-20 lead in the fourth set and finished off a 27-25 set win. Rivera’s kill started the late push, then she served four straight Tritons points, including two aces, while McCluskey added back-to-back kills to put the Tritons ahead 25-24. After Sac State tied it at 25, McNees answered with a kill and Jaedyn Houston served the closing ace.
UC San Diego created the first separation of the fifth set with McCluskey serving, getting a Johnson kill, a McCluskey ace and two McNees kills to turn a 4-4 tie into an 8-4 lead. After the Hornets later pulled even at 11-11, Kaliya Ndiaye had back-to-back kills to put the Tritons ahead 14-11. Sac State tied it at 14-14, and after the Tritons moved back in front 15-14, the hosts scored the final three points to take the set 17-15.
TRITON TIDBITS
Brynne McGhie recorded her fifth double-double of the season.
The Tritons are 1-5 in five-set matches this season.
UC San Diego is now 0-2 in the all-time series with Sacramento State.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will wrap up its home schedule against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. for ALZtogether Night. The Tritons will celebrate their seniors on Saturday, Nov. 14, taking on CSUN at 5 p.m. for Senior Night. Both matches will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live statistics will be available via UCSDTritons.com.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.