Aug. 30, 2003
LONG BEACH, Calif. - The ninth-ranked UC Santa Barbara women's volleyball team made its 2003 debut a memorable one as the Gauchos dominated Texas-Arlington 30-20, 30-25, 30-21 Saturday evening in the Pyramid.
A trio of Gauchos - seniors Francina Edmonds and Erica Menzel and sophomore Megan Blackshire - each pounded home 11 kills during UCSB's 11th season-opening victory in the past 12 years. The Mavericks, playing their second match in as many days at the Mizuno Invitational hosted by Long Beach State, fell to 0-2.
Thanks largely to an early 8-2 run, Santa Barbara raced out to a 17-9 lead in game one, forcing UTA to call timeout. Junior setter Mari Bell - who registered a career-high 39 assists - set up match point with a big solo block, before Menzel notched one of her put-aways to end the frame.
Texas-Arlington, the defending Southland Conference Champion, responded at the outset of game two by building a 7-2 advantage. The Gauchos chipped away at their deficit and tied the score on five occasions before finally taking their first lead at 18-17. It was an advantage they wouldn't relinquish as Blackshire's kill of an errant dig sent the reigning Big West Conference champs into the locker rooms holding a 2-0 cushion.
The third frame also saw the Mavericks pull ahead at 12-11, but UCSB mounted an 11-3 run that would put the match out of reach. Santa Barbara's reserves - including seven freshmen making their collegiate debuts - got a chance to shine, with setter Jackie Davis finding fellow rookie Kristy Sather for the contest-ending kill. The Gauchos' .318 hitting percentage in game three was their highest of the match.
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Individually, Blackshire led all players by connecting at a .562 clip, while UCSB junior libero Kristin Nelson registered a match-high 17 digs. Edmonds' 13 scoops established a new career high.
On the other side of the net, Melissa Robinett and Elizabeth Smith pounded home 12 ball apiece for UTA. The Mavericks out-dug Santa Barbara 62 to 57 and registered 5.0 team blocks, one more than the victors.
The Gauchos play their second of nine consecutive road matches to open the season on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at Loyola Marymount. The UCSB-LMU clash in Gersten Pavilion is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.
