AURORA, ILL. (4-1) -- UC Santa Cruz clicked in every facet of the match in their 3-0 win over Concordia University Chicago to close the Aurora Invitational.
The Banana Slugs improved to 21-11 with the 25-15, 25-21, 25-19 victory.
The first set started close before kills by Colby Hurdle and Cebrián Carter started a 4-1 run that gave UC Santa Cruz a 10-8 lead. The Cougars got within 15-13 before the Banana Slugs closed the set with a 10-2 burst.
UC Santa Cruz trailed 14-12 in the second set, but took the lead at 17-15 with a 5-1 run closed by a kill by Tennessee Fulks. The Cougars answered and got within 21-20 before UC Santa Cruz finished with a 4-1 run to take the set. Trevor Jackson had a hand in the last two points with a kill and a combo block with Fulks.
The Banana Slugs hit .500 in the final set, closing on a 6-2 run to finish the sweep.
The Banana Slugs outhit the Cougars overall .400 to .000, helped by the defense providing eight total blocks. Hurdle had team-highs of 10 kills, an ace and four block assists. Carter added season-highs of seven kills and five digs.
Johndiego White had a season-high 19 assists. UC Santa Cruz finishes the roadtrip at Dominican on Sunday afternoon.