Saturday, February 17
North Park University
12:30 PM Pacific
UC Santa Cruz Athletics
9-7,0-0DIII Independent
3
vs
0
Concordia-Chicago
5-7,0-1NACC
1
2
3
F
UC Santa Cruz
25
25
25
3
Concordia Chicago
15
14
13
0
Nico Espinoza led UCSC in kills against North Park
Photo by: Isabella Quinn-Rodriguez
Men's Volleyball finish weekend with pair of sweeps
2/17/2024 5:16:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
CHICAGO--Â Â UC Santa Cruz closed the weekend with a pair of sweeps against Chicago opponents.
The Banana Slugs defeated Concordia-Chicago 25-15, 25-14, 25-13 before turning around and defeating North Park 25-17, 25-19, 25-15.
UC Santa Cruz improved to 10-7 after their seventh win in a row.
Match 1-Concordia
UC Santa Cruz took control after a 9-2 run midway in the first set made it 16-6 and closing the set on a kill by Kyle Ownbey. Set two was also an attacking clinic, with the Banana Slugs grabbing an 11-3 lead after an 8-0 run, which included consecutive kills by Leo Tuncer and an ace by Nico Espinoza.
The Banana Slugs used their bench to easily win the third set. Jordan Adejumo had his first two college kills for the victory's last two points. Overall, UC Santa Cruz hit .542, a season-high, and had 52 kills to the Cougars' 21. Riley Norman had a team-high 15 kills.
Match 2- North ParkÂ
In their opening set the Vikings lost 25-17. A 3-0 run capped by Dylan Foreman's kill made the score 23-14. In set two, (25-19) UC Santa Cruz's last point to win this set was a kill by Tuncer, from Norman. Set three (25-15), UC Santa Cruz finished with a 3-0 run, ending on a block by Tuncer and Erickson. The kill leaders for UC Santa Cruz were Espinoza (10), Norman (9) and Foreman (7), with the North Park kill leaders being Gerald Malana (9), and Ty Ingrao (8). UC Santa Cruz's 44 kills helped lead them to victory. UC Santa Cruz also had two aces, eight blocks and 40 assists with 52 digs. North Park had 2 aces, 4 blocks, 22 assists and 35 digs.
The Banana Slugs defeated Concordia-Chicago 25-15, 25-14, 25-13 before turning around and defeating North Park 25-17, 25-19, 25-15.
UC Santa Cruz improved to 10-7 after their seventh win in a row.
Match 1-Concordia
UC Santa Cruz took control after a 9-2 run midway in the first set made it 16-6 and closing the set on a kill by Kyle Ownbey. Set two was also an attacking clinic, with the Banana Slugs grabbing an 11-3 lead after an 8-0 run, which included consecutive kills by Leo Tuncer and an ace by Nico Espinoza.
The Banana Slugs used their bench to easily win the third set. Jordan Adejumo had his first two college kills for the victory's last two points. Overall, UC Santa Cruz hit .542, a season-high, and had 52 kills to the Cougars' 21. Riley Norman had a team-high 15 kills.
Match 2- North ParkÂ
In their opening set the Vikings lost 25-17. A 3-0 run capped by Dylan Foreman's kill made the score 23-14. In set two, (25-19) UC Santa Cruz's last point to win this set was a kill by Tuncer, from Norman. Set three (25-15), UC Santa Cruz finished with a 3-0 run, ending on a block by Tuncer and Erickson. The kill leaders for UC Santa Cruz were Espinoza (10), Norman (9) and Foreman (7), with the North Park kill leaders being Gerald Malana (9), and Ty Ingrao (8). UC Santa Cruz's 44 kills helped lead them to victory. UC Santa Cruz also had two aces, eight blocks and 40 assists with 52 digs. North Park had 2 aces, 4 blocks, 22 assists and 35 digs.
Team Stats
UCSC
NPU
Kills
44
23
Errors
16
21
Attempts
102
103
Hitting %
.275
.019
Points
54.0
29.0
Assists
40
22
Aces
2
2
Blocks
8
4
Game Leaders
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ Men's VolleyballOutside Hitter/Opposite
/ Men's VolleyballOutside Hitter/Opposite
/ Men's VolleyballOutside Hitter
/ Men's Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Men's VolleyballSetter/Opposite
/ Men's Volleyball
