ARLINGTON, VA (3/5) -- No. 13 UC Santa Cruz split their Sunday double against ranked opponents. They were swept by 14th-ranked Marymount 17-25, 16-25, 19-25, but bounced back to defeat 15th-ranked Nichols 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-21)
UC Santa Cruz improved to 17-7.
Match 1
After kills by Zachary Thompson and Leo Tuncer tied it at 6-6 the first set, the host Saints went on a 10-3 run to take control and eventually win the set.
The Banana Slugs led Set Two 3-2 with aces from Colby Hurdle and Noy Fisher. But after four ties, Marymount outscored UC Santa Cruz 9-2 to take a 15-8 lead that they never relinquished.
There were ten ties in the third set, but once again Marymount got a run started and got to match point at 24-18 on consecutive blocks before finishing the sweep.

UC Santa Cruz hit just .106 while Marymount hit .439. Tuncer had team-highs of eight kills, seven digs and 14 assists.

Match 2
The Banana Slugs let the first set slip away after a 10-5 run by the Bison. However, they roared back to take the final three sets. Set Two had 11 ties before a 4-1 run gave the Banana Slugs set point. The Banana Slugs then held off two Bison points before a kill from Tennessee Fulks gave them the set and tied the match.
UC Santa Cruz never trailed in Set Three, opening up a 17-9 lead that included four kills from Colton Jeffrey and three aces by Fisher. A block by Fulks finished the set to put the Banana Slugs up 2-1.
The fourth set was closer, but a 5-2 run gave the Banana Slugs a 20-16 lead and they then held off any Nichols comeback to earn the win.

Overall UC Santa Cruz outhit Nichols .236 to .110, including hitting .367 in the last two sets. Jeffrey had a team-high 15 kills on 35 attempts as well as three solo blocks. Fisher had all six of UC Santa Cruz's aces, tying for the third best mark in school history. Marcus Donchuanchom had a career-high 14 digs.
The Banana Slugs return home for Senior Night Friday the 10th against Ottawa.