MATCH STATS
- #20 Cal Poly def. UCSB, 3-1 (27-25, 27-29, 25-21, 25-23)
- Cal Poly improves to 22-2, 12-0 Big West; UCSB drops to 6-17, 5-6 Big West
- San Luis Obispo, California
- Attendance: 2781
- Box score
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Cali. – The Mustangs got all they could handle from UCSB on Friday night, earning a four-set victory, 3-1 (27-25, 27-29, 25-21, 25-23). It was the 17th straight win for Cal Poly, a program record. They also earned the season sweep over UCSB and remain undefeated in the Big West. Additionally, Cal Poly remains undefeated at home this season at 6-0 with two home matches remaining.
Cal Poly’s version of Sister Act, Torrey and Adlee Van Winden, led the way for the Mustangs. Torrey, a sophomore outside transfer from UCLA, finished with a double-double of 20 kills and 10 digs. Her sister, junior outside hitter Adlee, just missed a double-double with 13 kills and 9 digs. Senior middle blocker Savannah Niemen added 12 kills and hit .500 on the night. Fellow senior Raeann Greisen rounded out the double-digit kill performers with 10 kills and added 7 digs to the floor defense. Senior setter Taylor Nelson had a double-double of her own, with a team-high 51 assists and a match- and career-high 24 digs.
For the Gauchos, the nation’s leader in total kills did not disappoint. Lindsey Ruddins finished with a match-high 26 kills. Charlie Robinson added 12 kills and 5 blocks. Setter Annie Hasselmann ran the efficient offense with a match- and career-high 54 assists to go along with a match- and career-high 9 blocks. She nearly had a triple-double with 9 digs. Libero Emilia Petrachi finished with a team-high 21 digs to lead the floor defense for the Gauchos.
PRESS RELEASES
Courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics
SAN LUIS OBISPO— The Van Winden sisters, Torrey and Adlee, combined for 33 kills as Cal Poly defeated UCSB in four sets (27-25, 29-27, 25-21, 25-23) to win its program record 17th straight match, sweep the blue-green rivalry season series and remain undefeated in the Big West.
The Mustangs (22-2, 12-0) got 20 kills from sophomore Torrey Van Winden to go along with 10 digs and 13 kills and nine digs from junior Adlee Van Winden. Seniors Savannah Niemen and Raeann Greisen added 12 kills and 10 kills. Freshman Madilyn Mercer got the start in the third set and finished with a career-high six kills, hitting .667. Senior Taylor Nelson finished with 51 assists and a career-high 24 digs.
The first two sets were a back-and-forth battle. Up 11-10, the Gauchos (6-17, 5-6) went on a 5-1 run to take a 16-11 lead. Down 20-17, the Mustangs would go on a 4-1 run of their own to tie it a 21. Tied at 25, a Torrey Van Winden kill set the Mustangs up with a match point. A Kija Rivers attack error gave Cal Poly the first set win 27-25.
The second set saw UCSB get out to an 8-1 lead to begin the set. Down 12-5, Cal Poly rallied to get it back to 13-12. They would later tie it at 16 apiece before taking its first lead of the set 17-16. The Gauchos would then go on a 4-0 run to take a 20-17 lead. The Mustangs would then rally again to tie it at 21 and then take a 24-21 lead before UCSB would then make a run of its own to tie it at 24. From there, the teams would trade points until, tied at 27, a Gaucho block followed by a kill ended the set 29-27.
The two teams continued to trade points to begin the third set that saw 13 ties and five lead changes. Tied at 19, Cal Poly would end the set on a 6-2 run to win the set 25-21.
The Mustangs would have their strongest showing of the match in the fourth set, hitting .366. Tied at 15, Cal Poly went on an 8-1 run to go up 23-16. UCSB would rally to cut the lead to 24-23 before a Niemen kill ended the set to seal the victory.
The Gauchos were led by the leader in the NCAA for kills, sophomore Lindsey Ruddins who finished with a match-high 26 kills.
With the win, Cal Poly also remains a perfect 6-0 at home this season with two home matches left to play.
Courtesy of UCSB Athletics
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Behind a combined 33 kills from the Van Winden sisters, No. 23 Cal Poly pulled out a 3-1 home victory over UC Santa Barbara on Friday night at the Mott Center. Set scores were 27-25, 27-29, 25-21, 25-23.
UCSB (6-17, 5-6 Big West) fought hard in the league showdown, with a number of Gauchos putting forth respectable displays.
Redshirt sophomore Lindsey Ruddins led all players with 26 kills, while junior setter Annie Hasselmann had a night to remember with a career-high 54 assists, four digs, and nine blocks while steering the team to a .238 hitting percentage, not far behind Cal Poly’s (22-2, 12-0) .274 clip.
The Mustangs meanwhile had four players reach double-digit kills in the match, led by Torrey Van Winden‘s 20-kill performance. Setter Taylor Nelson had 51 assists and a match-high 24 digs.
UCSB was a bit unlucky to drop the opening set after shaking off a 19-15 deficit to force extra points. Fortunately for Cal Poly, Torrey Van Winden put down a kill off the 25-25 tie to set up game point before a Gaucho attack error put the hosts up 1-0.
The Gauchos rebounded in the second frame to even up the match, parlaying an early 8-1 advantage behind dominant service from senior defensive specialist Sydney Bast into a set victory. Cal Poly would storm back to tie the set at 17-17, but UCSB held its ground and eventually emerged victorious in extra points on a Kjia Rivers–Charlie Robinson (12 kills, team-high five blocks) double-block followed by a Ruddins kill.
The Mustangs finished off the match with set victories in the third and fourth, reeling off a 7-2 run to clinch the third before sealing the decision by outlasting a late Gaucho run in the fourth, ending it on Savannah Niemen‘s 12th kill of the match.
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