REDLANDS (10-19) UC Santa Cruz defeated Redlands 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-23) to start off their SoCal trip this weekend. It was an even match from the start but the Slugs came to win and played hard to come in first in the last three sets. 

Redlands had the slight edge over the Slugs in the first set, beating UCSC 23-25. With 13 ties throughout the set, the winner was decided by the final two plays of the game,  two kills by Redlands to head into the second set up 1-0. 

In the second set, UCSC set out to dominate the Bulldogs. The Slugs had 4 out of the last 6 points, ensuring they could pull away from Redlands. These included 3 kills by 3 different people, including one each from Jordan Kirchner, Sinead Beaupain, and Claire Okerlund. Each was assisted by a different player as well, which included Beaupain, Shania Andrews, and Alana Susbilla. 

The Slugs were eager to get ahead of the Bulldogs in the third set, and performed well together to hold off the Bulldogs 25-22.

The game was decided in the fourth set. After it was tied 21-21, UCSC gained the lead 24-22. Then Redlands got their hopes up, with a kill to make it 24-23. But Maiya Sears had the final say in the match with a kill, on an assist from Susbilla. 

Sears controlled the match with a team-high 16 kills, alongside 12 kills from Okerlund.  Susbilla contributed 30 assists. Susbilla and Okerlund shared team high for digs with 15 each.

The Slugs, now 12-12, will play tomorrow against Chapman at 1pm.