Press Release courtesy of UCSB Athletics
Team Notes
- Record: 2-1
- AVCA: Receiving votes
- Victories over No. 8 Stanford (3-0) and NJIT (3-1)
- Loss to St. Francis (3-1)
- All three matches were played in the 2018 UCSB Asics Invitational. Other teams in field included Long Beach State, CSUN, and Princeton
- This contest kicks off a five-match, three-week road swing for UCSB
- UCSB was slated for seven straight on the road, but had last week’s scheduled matches at USC and UCLA canceled due to the closure of the 101 freeway following the devastating mudslides in Montecito.
- Next home match is Feb. 21 vs. Pepperdine; 46-day gap between home matchups is longest of McLaughlin era (hired 2009)
- Big West was a combined 16-1 in season’s first week (UCSB only team w/ loss). Conference is a combined 26-3 heading into the weekend
- Gauchos rank 3rd in league in blocking (2.64 per game) and digs (8.36)
- UCSB ranks in top-15 nationally in blocking (seventh), attacks per game (27.6, 11th), and serving (1.73 aces per game, 12th)
- Gauchos have hit over .300 in two of three matches, a feat they accomplished just eight times in 2017
- All-time record vs. Pepperdine: 38-68 (0-1 last season)
- Record vs. Pepperdine under Rick McLaughlin: 6-12
- Record at Pepperdine under McLaughlin: 4-6
Player Notes
No. 2 Casey McGarry – S – 6-0 – So. – Manhattan Beach, Calif. – Loyola HS
- Started match vs. St. Francis
- Was in a setting tandem with Randy DeWeese last year, similar setup to start 2018
- Appeared in other two matches as a late-game serving specialist
- Had 50 assists vs. SFU, his fourth career 50+ assist performance
- 9.56 A/S last year as freshman
No. 3 Roy McFarland – OH – 6-4 – So. – Manhattan Beach, Calif. – Mira Costa HS
- Named to UCSB Asics Invitational All-Tournament Team
- Had 33 kills (3.0/s) on .397 hitting with three aces and 14 digs (1.27/s)
- Has hit over .300 in every match
- Had 12 kills on .391 hitting vs. NJIT
- Added match-high nine kills vs. Stanford w/ a .571 H%
- Big West Player of the Week nominee in first week of season
- Averaged 2.88 K/S in March 2017, his only month of solid playing time, which would have ranked second on the team for the whole season
No. 5 Keenan Sanders – MB – 6-6 – So. – San Diego – Scripps Ranch HS
- Missed opening weekend w/ minor injury
- 2017 Off the Block Freshman All-American, MPSF All-Freshman Team
- 2017: 2.22 K/S (second on team), .373, 0.68 B/S
No. 8 Brandon Hopper – MB – 6-6 – RSo. – San Clemente, Calif. – San Clemente HS
- Opening Day starter at MB
- Started two of three matches in first week
- Totaled seven kills and four blocks
No. 11 Grady Yould – L – 6-0 – So. – Laguna Niguel, Calif. – Dana Hills HS
- Named to UCSB Asics Invitational All-Tournament Team
- Big West Defensive Player of the Week nominee in first week of season
- Totaled 20 digs (1.82 per set)
- Had nine in four sets against NJIT
No. 12 Corey Chavers – OH – 6-4 – Jr. – Downey, Calif. – Gahr HS
- Started all 3 matches at OH
- Totaled 36 kills, 11 digs, three aces, three blocks
- Registered most kills, swings, of any Gaucho
- Career 2.29 K/S average
- Second on the 2017 squad in kills per set and total aces
- 2nd in Big West, 6th in nation with 8.73 attacks/set average
- 6th in league with 3.27 K/S average
No. 13 Connor Drake – MB – 6-8 – Jr. – Granite Bay, Calif. – Del Oro HS
- Started two matches in first week
- Racked up 13 blocks, incl. 9 vs. NJIT
- Nine total blocks and three solo blocks vs. NJIT were career highs
- Leads Big West in blocking (1.63 per game)
- Added seven kills on 13 swings vs. NJIT
- Led team in blocking last year (1.16)
- Career 1.18 B/S average
No. 16 Hayden Boehle – OH – Sr. – 6-1 – Westchester, Calif. – Loyola HS
- Heavy contributor last three years at L/OH, will redshirt 2018 due to injury
No. 19 Randy DeWeese – S – So. – 6-6 – Sacramento – Natomas Pacific Prep
- Opening Day starter at setter, started two of three matches in first week
- Appeared in third match as a late-game serving specialist
- Totaled 62 assists in his two starts (31 in both), an average of 8.86 per game
- Was an all-around threat vs. NJIT, adding five kills on nine attempts, eight digs, five blocks (two solo) and two aces
- Ranks third in the Big West and 16th in the country with a 0.55 aces per set average
- Had exactly two aces in each match last week (incl. his non-start)
- Team hit over .300 in both his starts, something 2017 Gauchos did just eight times
No. 20 Jack Truman – MB – 6-11 – RFr. – Redondo Beach, Calif. – Loyola HS
- Started final two matches of weekend
- Had 15 kills on 21 swings vs. SFU, a UCSB rally era record for debut kills by a MB
- Most kills by any Gaucho in a debut in the McLaughlin era (since 2009)
- He is one of just three UCSB MB’s to have 15 K in a match in the McLaughin era and the first since Dylan Davis had 17 vs. LBSU on Mar. 12, 2012 (Scott Slaughter in 2009 was the other)
- Totaled 20 kills on the week on .517 hitting, added five blocks
- 2nd in conference in hitting percentage
- Big West Freshman of the Week nominee in first week
No. 23 Spencer Fredrick – Opp. – So. – 6-3 – Lynwood, Calif. – Valley Christian HS
- Started all three matches last week on right side
- Totaled 20 kills (1.82/s) on 52 swings with 18 digs, seven blocks (three solo), and four aces
- Flirted with a double-double vs. SFU (8K, 10D)
- 1.54 K/S in 24 sets as true freshman last season
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