Box Score
WHITTIER - Despite coming off the long layoff and having two-thirds of their roster never playing a college match, UC Santa Cruz fired on all cylinders in a 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-15) sweep of Whittier in the season-opener.
The Banana Slugs (1-0) hit .381 on the night and three players had double-figure kills, led by Super Senior Claire Okerlund with 15.
Two debutants also found the target. Freshman Audrey Gilbert had 10 kills on just 11 swings for an amazing .909 percentage, while sophomore Samantha Taylor also had 10 to go with a team-high 15 digs.
The match started close, with four ties until a kill by Okerlund and an ace by junior Sinead Beaupain started a 7-0 run for a 15-7 lead in Set One. The Poets fought back and staved off three set points before a Taylor kill ended the set for UCSC's favor.
After Whittier had the first point in Set Two, UCSC went on a 5-0 run and eventually built a ten-point lead at 17-7 before taking the set for a 2-0 lead.
The Banana Slugs saved their best for last in Set Three, hitting .478 and serving four aces to complete the sweep. It broke the Banana Slugs' seven-match losing streak to Whittier dating back to 2015.
Afterwards, head coach Gabrielle Houston said "we are so proud of the team and how they played tonight! Great teamwork and focused play. Our freshmen middles hit high percentage and contributed greatly
to our success. We are looking forward to Friday."
Beaupain had 18 assists to go along with 14 digs. Fellow setter Lauren Bliss had 15 assists to go with a pair of aces in her first college match. Overall UCSC held Whittier to .056 hitting and served 9 aces to Whittier's 2. 

The Banana Slugs continue their season-opening so-Cal adventure at the Pacific Coast Classic this weekend, starting at No. 10 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Friday morning at 9:30.