No. 5 men’s volleyball (12-13, 3-7 Big West) will charge into the Big West Championship facing No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara (14-11, 5-5 Big West) in Irvine on Thursday. Last year, UC San Diego defeated the Gauchos to play in the semifinals, where it fell to eventual national champion Long Beach State. The run marked the Tritons’ strongest postseason performance since claiming the runner-up spot to the Gauchos in 2021.

Despite the loss of three crucial members from last year’s team, former LBSU junior outside hitter Sebastiano Sani has bolstered the Tritons, joining on their side instead of across the net. Sani — who the conference named Big West Offensive Player of the Week on April 13 — has become a key part of the Triton offense, averaging 3.62 kills per set. After a 3-1 upset against No. 1 seed Hawai’i on April 11, the Tritons hope to maintain their momentum through the postseason. Thursday’s high‑stakes rematch follows the Tritons’ 3-2 loss to the Gauchos in their regular‑season finale on Saturday, testing how far UCSD’s late‑season surge can carry it.