Jan. 10, 2003

In a five game brawl Friday night the 6th seeded UC Santa Barbara Gauchos defeated the 3rd seeded Pacific Tigers, in the first round of the 39th Annual Elephant Bar Tournament. UCSB won the first two games, 30-27 and 30-28, to take the lead in the beginning of the match. The Tigers put up a fight, winning the next two games, 30-22 and 30-22, gaining momentum for the fifth game. The two teams faced of in a neck-and-neck fifth game, UCSB taking the lead to win 15-12, and closing the night with an advance to the championship bracket. Big hitters of the night include Martin Berntsen of Pacific, with 17 kills, and the Gauchos' Matt Boelk with the match high of 18 kills. Aaron Mansfield led the Gauchos with 13 digs, while the Tigers' Aaron Wachtfogel topped his team with 11 digs for the match. At the setting position, Pacific's Chris Tamas gained 55 assists, and Gaucho freshman Dane Jensen boasted 56. The Gauchos will go on to play UC Irvine for a chance at the tournament championship Saturday at 10am in the Thunderdome.