![\"BYU\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769259135_710_BYU_logo.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Next Match:<\/p>\n
BYU<\/p>\n
1\/29\/2026 | 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
\n Jan. 29 (Thu) \/ 7 p.m.
\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n \u00a0BYU
\n <\/p>\n
History <\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n PALO ALTO, Calif. \u2013\u00a0The No. 17 UC Santa Barbara Men’s Volleyball team shut out No. 14 Stanford Friday night, ending the Cardinal’s five-match win streak over the Gauchos and equalizing the previous night’s loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n Following a hard-fought near-win on Thursday night, the Gauchos adjusted their strategy and did it well, coming away from Friday with their first ranked win of the season.<\/p>\n HOW IT HAPPENED The Gauchos got an early head start in the second, guiding the match until Stanford overcame them at 15-14. But, after Cole Schobel<\/a> tied it at 18-18 with an ace, the momentum was back with the Gauchos. They grew a budding lead at 20-18 and it was smooth sailing from there.\u00a0 Santa Barbara wrapped the second 25-20.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Gauchos faced the final test in the third set, but it proved to be no issue, as they cleaned it 25-16. Santa Barbara immediately reached 6-1 to lead by five, then doubled the difference at 15-5 to lead by ten. Santa Barbara stood firm and still led by ten at 21-11. The Gauchos allowed for a couple more points from Stanford, but before long, finished the set 25-16 and the match 3-0.\u00a0<\/p>\n Santa Barbara took down Stanford for the first time since 2020 and handed them their fourth loss of the season. The Gauchos hit a dazzling .402 in comparison to Stanford’s simple .155 hitting average.\u00a0<\/p>\n Riggs Guy<\/a> and George Bruening<\/a> had incredible offensive outings, each hitting in the .400 range and reaching double-digit kills. Bruening led the match in both kills and points, slamming 14 kills and walling three blocks. Guy trailed just barely, striking 11.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cole Schobel<\/a> totaled 35 assists across the three sets, giving him an average of 11.6 per set. Josh Aruya<\/a> landed an excellent six out of eight kill attempts to hit .625.<\/p>\n
\nThough set one stood even through 7-7, Santa Barbara pieced together a small lead at 10-7, with Josh Aruya<\/a> earning an ace to make the Gauchos the first to double-digits. The margin only grew, and by 18-11, the Gauchos had run away with the score. Stanford managed to collect a couple more points before the set was done, but the Gauchos ended with a definitive 25-19 first-set win.\u00a0<\/p>\n