LA JOLLA- Host UC San Diego outhit UC Santa Cruz .348 to .125 in a 3-0 sweep (15-25, 22-25, 16-25) Friday night.

UC Santa Cruz fell to 6-1 while Big West Conference's Tritons improved to 4-1 on the season.

It was the 25th all-time meeting between the two old rivals, but first meeting since 2008. Despite the difference in divisions, UCSC showed they weren't going to be intimidated against their fellow UC as the visitors grabbed a quick 2-0 opening set lead. With the set tied at 7, UCSD went on a 5-1 run to take the lead. The Slugs came back to get within 3 at 16-13, but the hosts finished with a 9-2 run helped by a pair of blocks and a pair of aces to win the set.

UCSC opened the second set with another 2-0 lead, and this time matched the Tritons before the hosts came back. There were seven ties as UCSC stayed close. However with the set tied at 17, the Tritons had a 5-1 run again to take a 22-18 lead. A block by Raymond Cascio got UCSC within one at 22-21 before the Tritons closed out the set to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

UCSC stayed close again in set three, as the teams tied the first 9 points. However, a pair of blocks from the hosts' Alec Flowers and Tanner Syftestad keyed a 10-2 run that gave the Tritons the lead for good before finishing the match with a kill from Bryce Curtis.

UC San Diego had 47 kills to the Slugs' 29, and outblocked UCSC 9-5. Syftestad had four aces with his game-high 14 kills to lead the attack, while Flowers added 9 on 10 swings. 

Career kills leader Lake Merchen had 12 to lead UCSC. Ryan Manley had 6 kills with a team-high 7 digs and Cascio and Justin Fortner each had 4 kills and a solo block. 

The Banana Slugs continue their road trip with a game Sunday at UC Merced.