SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. – On day two of the ASICS Invitational hosted by UC Santa Barbara, the Maryville men's volleyball squad took on the host No. 17 Gauchos but fell in a 3-1 contest. UCSB prevailed 25-10, 24-26, 25-19, 25-19.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints trailed 3-1 before tying the score. Jayden Rookhuyzen had a kill, and UCSB committed a hitting error to make it 3-3. UCSB went back ahead but the Saints were still only down 9-6. The Gauchos scored five straight to surge ahead. The Saints scored but UCSB tallied four consecutive points and went ahead by double digits. Set two was close throughout and the score was tied at 21-21. Makai Nzioki had a kill, UCSB committed an error, and an ace by Nzioki gave the Saints set point. UCSB saved them all but Makai Scott had a kill and another miscue by UCSB gave the Saints a 26-24 win.
 
The hosts took an early lead in set three and built a four-point edge. AJ Robateau had a kill, and a UCSB error pulled the Saints to 7-5. The deficit was six until Ezra Maupin had a kill followed by a Jake Usher ace to make it 19-15. Maryville tallied three straight points and got as close at 23-19 but UCSB held on for the win. Set four saw UCSB build a 6-3 lead but the Saints rallied to tie the score. After a UCSB error, Robateau had a kill and Usher dropped in a kill for a 6-6 tie. However, the Gauchos scored six of the next seven points. Maryville answered with four straight, capped by Scott's ace to make it 13-12. UCSB created some space with a 5-1 run. The Saints made a final push with another 3-0 run. Whitemountain and Rookhuyzen sandwiched kills around a UCSB error to make it 20-17.

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills: Ezra Maupin - 8
Hitting Percentage: Ezra Maupin - .636
Assists: Jake Usher - 26
Service Aces: four players - 1
Digs: Aidan Whitemountain - 8
Blocks: none
 
RECORDS
Maryville: 0-2
No. 17 UC Santa Barbara: 2-0
 
What's Next?
The Saints close out their trip to California and the ASICS Tournament as they take on No. 6 UC Irvine in a 4 pm CT match.