THOUSAND OAKS -- The UC Santa Cruz men's volleyball team took on top-ranked Wentworth Institute of Technology and lost 0-3 (21-25, 24-26, 27-29).
 
The first set started with the Leopards in the lead until a kill by Noy Fisher and an attack error helped the Banana Slugs be in the lead (8-7). The Leopards were able to gain back the lead with many kills (9-15). Ethan Makishima and Fisher had back-to-back kills making the score 17-19 but the set ended with a kill from the Leopards making the score 25-21.
 
Makishima started the second set strong with a kill making the score 1-0. It was a back-and-forth set with many ties, including a great double block by Fisher and Makishima making the score 11-11. However, the Leopards were able to secure the second set off of two back-to-back kills making the score 26-24.
 
The third set started off strong for the Banana Slugs with a kill by Fisher and consecutive kills by Leo Tuncer making the score 3-0. Then, Riley Norman made a striking kill, with attack errors from the Leopards helping the Banana Slugs secure the lead (9-7). The Banana Slugs stayed in the lead for the rest of the set with a kill by Tuncer and another attack error by the Leopards that gave UC Santa Cruz set point at 24-20. Unfortunately, the Leopards made four consecutive points tying the set 24-24. From consecutive points, the Leopards won the final set with a score 29-27.
 
Fisher had a team-high with 16 kills on 28 total attacks along with one block and one dig. Jalen Suwa led the defense with 11 digs, and Logan Taylor had the most assists with 29.
 
UC Santa Cruz men's volleyball will next play against Marymount University in the last match of the Cal-Lu-fornia Tournament at 3:00 PM.