Volleyball — The weekend didn’t go as well as expected for
UCSD, as it suffered two losses in
Both
and
got the better of UCSD, sending the Tritons into a season-long, five-game
losing skid.
The losses drop the Tritons’ record to 4-12 overall and keep
them searching for a swagger they had against UC Irvine over a month ago. Since
the victory over the reigning national champions, UCSD has lost nine of 11.
Head coach Kevin Ring said that the team went into the
weekend with high hopes of getting back on track.
“We played a couple of tough MPSF matches against Pepperdine
and USC last week and we were competitive this week,” he said. “Right now we
have oe or two guys having a good night, but not all six. The next night it
will be reversed. We’re really working in practice to become more consistent.”
Ring said the blocking game needed improvement, a weakness
that was obvious over the weekend. In the matches against Lewis and
Loyola-Chicago, the Tritons were out-blocked 37-18.
“It’s not a matter of height but experience,” he said.
“Loyola and Lewis have juniors and seniors while we have freshmen. It’s a big
step from high school to club to college and we’re still trying to find the
right combo of guys.”
The Tritonss battled against Lewis in all four games, but
late runs proved UCSD’s demise yet again. Sophomore Jason Spangler pounded 25
kills, but it wasn’t enough as the Flyers took the match 30-27, 27-30, 30-25,
30-27.
Game one witnessed 15 ties and five lead changes as both
teams fought for breathing room. The Tritons opened up the first real advantage
22-20 on senior Russ Hardy’s kill. But Lewis responded, taking the lead 23-22
and scoring five of the next eight to cruise to the win.
The Tritons responded in game two, using a late 4-1 run in
the tight contest to open up a 25-22 advantage. In a game that had 14 ties and
five lead changes, UCSD used a late run to steal game two just like Lewis did
in game one.
Knotted up at one game apiece, the Flyers took off in game
three, opening a 17-9 lead and soaring to an easy victory. Game four was
closer, but Lewis maintained control throughout, as UCSD wasn’t able to put any
run together.
The Tritons couldn’t dwell on the loss for long as the
Ramblers downed UCSD 30-25, 30-26, 29-31, 30-22.
Down by three in game one, UCSD pulled within 23-22 before
the Ramblers rolled to the win with a four-point run. Game two wasn’t much
different as the Tritons were within three late, but a Loyola-Chicago run
later, UCSD had dug itself a two-game deficit.
The Tritons stormed out to a 25-21 lead in game three until
the Ramblers went on their usual late game run. This time UCSD had a larger
cushion and two Spangler kills closed out the game.
In game four, Loyola-Chicago scored 11 of 15 early to lead
by seven. The advantage reached as many as 10 before the Ramblers closed out
the game.
