Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
REDLANDS - UC Santa Cruz completed an undefeated weekend with two wins in Redlands on Saturday.
The Banana Slugs swept Pomona-Pitzer 25-17, 25-22, 25-23 in the morning before turning around and beating Redlands  25-14, 25-14, 25-10.
The double sweep gave UCSC (11-1) their best start since 1983, when Cindy Mori's first team finished a perfect 18-0. Also, the team won 10 straight matches for the first time since 2010.
In the early match against the Sagehens,  UCSC closed strong in each set. They finished the second set with a 7-1 run and produced an 8-2 run in set three to comeback and close out the match. Samantha Taylor led the Banana Slugs in kills for the second straight match with 9. Claire Okerlund added 8 while Audrey Gilbert, Kelly Ann Greene and Sydney Ahrendt each had 6. Overall, UCSC hit .280 in the three sets and out-dug Pomona 47-41, with Giovanna Martins finishing with 17.
UC Santa Cruz kept the momentum going in the second match against the host Bulldogs. After being neck-and-neck in the early match, UCSC never trailed at any point in the match against Redlands, outhitting the hosts .309 to .070 and had a 7-1 advantage in aces. Isabella Hoglund led the Banana Slugs with 11 kills.
"I couldn't be more proud of this team!" said head coach Gabby Houston. "We have played 12 matches on the road in 3 weeks and we are 11-1. It's an amazing start and we continue to improve each day! Connections between players are really starting to gel."
The Banana Slugs return to NorCal for their next games, starting Wednesday at Mills College.