SAN DIEGO - UC San Diego (7-9) met with Sacramento State (8-8) women’s volleyball on Friday evening for the first time since 1988. The Tritons fell to the Sacramento State Hornets 3-1 (25-23, 25-23, 15-25, 25-16), the Hornets being a recent addition to the Big West. Sacramento State is now 6-0 historically against the Tritons.
Set One
The first set began with six ties before either team hit 10 points, including digs by libero Paulina Baillie to keep rallies alive. UC San Diego ultimately extended the biggest lead to go up 10-7 on a service ace by Dillyn Griffin. Three consecutive points from the Tritons maintained the lead, 15-12. Molly McCluskey’s second kill brought the Tritons to a 20-18 lead, though the Hornets came back. UCSD led by only one point, 22-21, prompting a timeout from UC San Diego. Despite the chance to regroup, Sacramento scored two straight points to go up 23-22. The Tritons took another timeout, after which Sacramento kept storming forward with another point, 24-22. A kill by Ireland McNees broke the Hornet’s streak, however a quick kill by the Hornets earned them the first set, 25-23. The teams tied eight times. Gia Rivera earned a team-high five kills, McNees executed 11 total attacks, Marleena Catalan nine assists, and Baillie six digs.
Set Two
The second set was characterized by an unusual number of ties. They tied at every number, 3-13, in the second set. Sacramento finally broke the pattern when they scored five consecutive points, breaking away and taking a 17-13 lead. The Hornets reached a 20-16 lead from a service error, though the Tritons responded with three quick kills, two from Lucia Barroso. A few points later the score was tied again at 21, the 13th tie of the set. Neither team gave up the necessary four remaining points easily, but the Hornets eventually took the set 25-23. By the end of the second set, Rivera continued to lead with 11 kills, McNees with 26 total attacks, Catalan with 12 assists, and Baillie with 12 digs.
“I tell the team that every play is an independent event,” said Head Coach Spencer McLachlin about the ties in the second set. “Doesn’t matter what your score is, you do your job. The score is going to take care of itself… trust your training. That’s kinda been our theme.”
Head Coach Spencer McLachlin addresses the team during a timeout. Photo credit: Miguel Mejia/Miguel Mejia Photography
Set Three
Looking to avoid a sweep, the Tritons struck first in the third set, taking an early 5-2 lead. The Hornets came close to within one point a few times, but UC San Diego fended them off. Seven consecutive points gave the Tritons a wider gap, including two consecutive kills by Rivera. The Tritons now leading 14-6, Sacramento answered the 7-0 streak with two consecutive points. Rivera quickly shut that down with her 15th kill of the match. Two more points from the Hornets followed, this time shut down by McCluskey’s eighth kill. After some further point trading, with the score at 20-15, the Tritons were looking for the last five points to win the set. Two quick kills, a service ace, and two attack errors from Sacramento later, the Tritons claimed the third set 25-15 to stay alive. Rivera led the stats from the first three sets with 16 kills and 30 total attacks, and the digs continued to be Baillie’s territory, now at 14.
Paulina Baillie attempting a dig. Photo credit: Miguel Mejia/Miguel Mejia Photography
Set Four
The teams stayed close throughout the first half of the set, with the Hornets leading 12-11. Sacramento State pulled ahead with a six-point lead towards the middle of the set, 19-13. That lead turned into seven, then eight. Sacramento went up 22-14 and inched closer to a win. UC San Diego kept fighting, but Sacramento State ultimately scored the three necessary points and won the fourth set 25-16.
Rivera had a team-high 18 kills, McNees led with 38 total attacks, Catalan with 21 assists, and Baillie led with 16 digs.
“Flush this,” said Coach McLachlin postgame about the team’s mentality going forward. “We gotta get back to playing our volleyball. And we gotta flush it.”
Up next for the Tritons is one more home match at LionTree Arena on Saturday at 5 p.m. for Breast Cancer Awareness Night before two away matches. The match will be against Utah Valley, another Big West newcomer. The Wolverines are currently 4-13, and the match will be steamed on ESPN+.
Top photo: UC San Diego’s Friday evening match against Sacramento State. Photo credit: Miguel Mejia/Miguel Mejia Photography
