THE SCHEDULE
Match 17 - Big West Conference
Friday • March 6 • 7 p.m.
No. 6 UC San Diego (13-3, 2-0) at No. 3 UC Santa Barbara (13-2, 0-0)
Rob Gym • Santa Barbara, Calif.
Series Record: UCSB leads 42-8
Watch Live • Live Stats • Tickets

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Match 18 - Non-Conference
Saturday • March 7 • 5 p.m.
No. 6 UC San Diego (13-3) at No. 12 UCLA (8-9)
John Wooden Center • Los Angeles, Calif.
Series Record: UCLA leads 54-7
Watch Live • Live Stats • Tickets

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ABOUT UC SAN DIEGO
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
• Overall: 13-3
• Big West: 2-0
• Home: 8-2
• Away: 3-1
• Neutral: 2-0
• Streak: Won 6
• AVCA national ranking: 6th
• Big West Preseason Poll: 6th of 6

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UC SAN DIEGO ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Starters Returning (4)
• Logan Clark (So., MB)
• Wyatt Harrison (Jr., OH)
• Collin Shannon (Jr., OPP)
• Connor Walbrecht (Sr., S)

Primary Liberos Returning (1)
• Ryan Lew (Sr.)

Starters Lost (2)
• Xander Jimenez (OH)
• Vlad Pesic (MB)

Others Returning (10)
• Gabe Avillion (R-So., MB)
• Shane Benetz (So., MB)
• Blake Crisp (So., S)
• Bryce Curtis (Jr., OH)
• Macune Gilruth (R-So., OPP)
• Ryan Ka (R-Fr., OH)
• Berkeley Miesfeld (So., OPP)
• Matt Palma (So., L)
• Marco Posada (R-Fr., OH/OPP)
• Michael Urdahl (R-Fr., MB)

Others Lost (4)
• Alex Biz (OH)
• Connor Leech (OH)
• Leor Schiffer (OH)
• Sean Staskus (OH)

Newcomers (6)
• Will Campbell (Fr., S)
• Kyle McCauley (Jr., OH)
• Adam Sevier (Fr., MB)
• Charlie Siragusa (So., OH)
• Ryan Swartz (Fr., OH)
• Camden Winter (Fr., MB)

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ABOUT UC SANTA BARBARA
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
• Overall: 13-2
• Big West: 0-0
• Home: 7-0
• Away: 5-2
• Neutral: 1-0
• Streak: Won 7
• AVCA national ranking: 3rd
• Big West Preseason Poll: 2nd of 6

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ABOUT UCLA
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
• Overall: 8-9
• MPSF: 2-3
• Home: 1-3
• Away: 6-6
• Neutral: 1-0
• Streak: Lost 2
• AVCA national ranking: 12th
• MPSF Preseason Poll: 2nd of 7

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BIG WEST STANDINGS
(through 3/4)
1. UC San Diego, 2-0 (13-3)
2. Hawai'i, 0-0 (14-0)
2. Long Beach State, 0-0 (9-1)
2. UC Santa Barbara, 0-0 (13-2)
2. CSUN, 0-0 (4-10)
6. UC Irvine, 0-2 (8-7)

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WE'RE ON ESPN3!
For the second consecutive season, all UC San Diego home matches will be broadcast live by ESPN3. ESPN3 events are available through the ESPN website (espn.com/watch), the ESPN app on mobile devices, or on connected streaming devices (Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox One, PS4, etc.). To access live ESPN3 programming, you must authenticate on the website or in the app using your video/cable provider account. Non-participating TV provider customers may have access to ESPN3 programming online at WatchESPN.com as long as they subscribe to a participating high speed internet service provider. Users accessing WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN or ESPN mobile applications via an on-campus (.edu) or on-base (.mil) network receive complimentary access to ESPN3 content. More information about accessing live ESPN3 content is available at this link.

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ROCK THE VOTE
For the second-straight week, UC San Diego is ranked No. 6 in the national poll, the highest the team has been ranked since joining the NCAA Division II ranks prior to the 2001 season. The Tritons' previous high was No. 8 in March of 2009. This season, they debuted at No. 15 on Jan. 27, their first national ranking since 2013. Overall, they have been listed in the top 15 nationally 78 times and in the top 10 on 12 occasions. Here's a look at where the team has stood in this season's polls.
• 3/2: 6th
• 2/24: 6th
• 2/17: 10th
• 2/10: Tied for 14th
• 2/3: Receiving votes
• 1/27: 15th
• 1/20: Receiving votes
• 1/13: Receiving votes
• 12/5 (preseason): Not ranked

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AVCA NATIONAL POLL
(3/2)
1. Hawai'i
2. BYU
3. UC Santa Barbara
4. Long Beach State
5. Lewis
6. UC San Diego
7. UC Irvine
8. Penn State
9. Pepperdine
10. Grand Canyon
11. Princeton
12. UCLA
13. Stanford
14. Concordia Irvine
15. George Mason
Receiving votes: Purdue Fort Wayne, Harvard, Ball State

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BIG RANKINGS FOR THE BIG WEST
Five of the six Big West Conference teams can be found in this week's AVCA Top 15 National Poll. In fact, all five can be found among the top seven.
1. Hawai'i
3. UC Santa Barbara
4. Long Beach State
6. UC San Diego
7. UC Irvine

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GRAB THE WINDEX
UC San Diego is streaking. The Tritons have won six straight matches, which ties the longest in the program's history. The run started on Feb. 4 against Concordia Irvine and has thus far gone through Feb. 28 vs. UC Santa Cruz. During the span, UC San Diego recorded three wins against a nationally-ranked team, four sweeps, its first ever Big West Conference victory, its first ever Big West regular season series sweep (UC Irvine), and its first ever Big West win streak (2). The team also won six consecutive contests in 1996 at the Division III level.

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HISTORIC WIN
On Feb. 15, UC San Diego defeated UC Irvine, 3-2, at the Bren Events Center in Orange County. History was made as it was the Tritons' first ever Big West Conference victory. The team went 0-10 in conference matches in both 2018 and 2019. In addition, the win snapped a 19-match slide against the Anteaters. Check out the full recap and box score here.

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WALBRECHT DOUBLES UP
On Feb. 24, Connor Walbrecht was selected as the Big West Defensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. Walbrecht helped UC San Diego sweep No. 6 UC Irvine at RIMAC Arena. He produced match-highs with 12 digs and 45 assists while adding two blocks and a service ace. It was his sixth double-double of the season. Walbrecht paced the Tritons to a .357 hitting percentage, the eighth time this season they have hit over .300.
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TOPPING THE RANKED
UC San Diego has earned six victories over a nationally-ranked team this season:
• No. 3 UCLA (1/17)
• No. 5 UC Irvine (2/15)
• No. 6 UC Irvine (2/21)
• No. 11 Loyola (1/9)
• No. 13 Princeton (1/28)
• No. 14 Concordia Irvine (2/4)

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THREE STRAIGHT AGAINST THE TROJANS
With a 3-1 win against USC on Feb. 6 at RIMAC Arena, the Tritons made it three consecutive victories over the Trojans dating back to the 2017 season (the teams didn't meet in 2019).

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AN UPSET WAS BRUIN
On Jan. 17 at RIMAC Arena, UC San Diego rolled to a 3-0 victory over third-ranked UCLA. It was the first time the Tritons had defeated the Bruins since March 30, 2012. UCLA was ranked No. 3 in the nation at that time as well. The last time the Tritons swept the Bruins was on April 1, 2011 in Westwood.

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CHASE THE ACE
UC San Diego put down 11 service aces at UC Irvine on Feb. 15. That was the team's most since totaling 11 against California Baptist in March of 2017. Since 2001, the team's high has been 13, which came against Stanford in April of 2006. On two occasions since 2001, they have had 12. 

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2020 HONOR ROLL
• Wyatt Harrison: Big West Player of the Week (1/27), Off the Block National Outside Hitter of the Week (1/27), Off the Block National Offensive Player of the Night (1/17), Lindenwood Invitational All-Tournament Team (1/26), UCSDtritons.com Athlete of the Week (1/20)
• Ryan Lew: Big West Defensive Player of the Week (1/27)
• Kyle McCauley: AVCA National Player of the Week (1/14), Two-time Big West Player of the Week (1/13, 2/17), San Diego Sports Association Star of the Month for January, UCSDtritons.com Athlete of the Week (1/13)
• Connor Walbrecht: Two-time Big West Defensive Player of the Week (2/17, 2/24), Off the Block National Setter of the Week (2/24), Off the Block National Offensive Player of the Night (1/9), Lindenwood Invitational All-Tournament Team, UCSDtritons Athlete of the Week (2/24)

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LEW HAS A FEW
Senior libero Ryan Lew has moved into the top three on UC San Diego's career digs list:
1. Eric Lesserman, 885 (2006-09)
2. Chase Frishman, 674 (2010-13)
3. Ryan Lew, 650 (2017-present)

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UC SAN DIEGO NATIONAL STAT RANKINGS
(all matches, top 20)
6. Opponent Hitting Percentage, .198
7. Blocks/Set, 2.4
9. Assists/Set, 11.9
12. Kills/Set, 12.7
12. Digs/Set, 9.4
13. Attacks/Set, 27.7
14. Hitting Percentage, .292

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TRITON NATIONAL STAT RANKINGS
(all matches, top 20)
7. Connor Walbrecht, Assists/Set, 10.3
8. Shane Benetz, Blocks/Set, 1.2
9. Kyle McCauley, Kills/Set, 4.1
12. Connor Walbrecht, Digs/Set, 2.3
14. Kyle McCauley, Points/Set, 4.6
17. Shane Benetz, Hitting Percentage, .374

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UC SAN DIEGO BIG WEST STAT RANKINGS
(all matches through 3/4)
3. Assists/Set, 11.9
3. Aces/Set, 1.3
3. Blocks/Set, 2.4
3. Points/Set, 16.5
4. Kills/Set, 12.7
4. Digs/Set, 9.4
5. Hitting Percentage, .292

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TRITON BIG WEST STAT RANKINGS
(all matches through 3/4, top 5)
1. Kyle McCauley, Kills, 223
2. Kyle McCauley, Kills/Set, 4.1
2. Connor Walbrecht, Digs, 133
3. Wyatt Harrison, Kills, 210
3. Connor Walbrecht, Digs/Set, 2.3
3. Ryan Lew, Digs, 117
3. Shane Benetz, Blocks/Set, 1.2
3. Connor Walbrecht, Assists/Set, 10.3

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THE STARS ARE OUT
Kyle McCauley was named a Star of the Month for January by the San Diego Sports Association. Over the month, he averaged 4.6 points, 4.1 kills, 1.4 digs, and 0.6 blocks per set to lead UC San Diego to a 7-3 record and its first national ranking since 2013. At one point, the Tritons were 7-2 for just the second time in program history. McCauley finished with a double-digit kill total in eight of 10 matches. He hit .300 or better in eight contests and .400 or better twice. In addition, McCauley registered five or more digs six times and three or more blocks five times. McCauley posted career and match highs with 21 kills in an upset of No. 13 Princeton. He had a team best 13 kills in a huge upset of No. 3 UCLA, the Tritons' first victory against the Bruins since 2012.

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MCCAULEY EARNS BIG TIME HONORS
On Jan. 14, junior outside hitter Kyle McCauley was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Week to go along with his Big West Conference Player of the Week title earned the day before. In his first season with the Tritons after transferring from Orange Coast College, McCauley averaged 4.6 kills and 5.3 points while hitting .413 over two matches at RIMAC Arena. In his debut, he had match highs with 20 kills and 24 points to help the Tritons to a thrilling five set win over No. 11 Loyola. He also added six digs, two aces, and two blocks and hit .361 vs. the Ramblers. Two nights later against No. 6 Lewis, McCauley posted match highs with 17 kills and 18 points. He also had a team best six digs plus two blocks and hit .481 against the Flyers. McCauley is the fifth AVCA National Player of the Week to come out of UC San Diego. The program's last was opposite hitter Tanner Syftestad in January of 2018. He is the first Triton to win Big West Player of the Week since opposite Collin Shannon picked up the honor in February of 2019.

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CLARK, CRISP NAMED TO BIG WEST ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Logan Clark and Blake Crisp were selected to the 2019 Big West Conference All-Freshman Team. Clark, a middle blocker, averaged 1.9 points and 1.4 kills per set over 21 matches (13 starts). He was fourth on the team with 38 total blocks. Crisp saw time in 25 matches with 10 starts. The setter totaled 365 assists, good for a 6.0 average. UC San Diego has produced three Big West All-Freshman Team performers as outside hitter Wyatt Harrison was recognized in 2018.

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FIVE TRITONS EARN BIG WEST ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
Gabe Avillion, Bryce Curtis, Xander Jimenez, Ryan Lew, and Collin Shannon were all named to the 2019 Big West Academic All-Conference Team. To be eligible for the award, student-athletes have to maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, complete one full year at the member institution prior to the season for which the award is being received (at least a sophomore academically), and have competed in at least 50 percent of their team's contests. Jimenez and Lew were Big West Academic All-Conference honorees in 2018 as well.

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SHANNON NAMED 2019 ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Collin Shannon was named a Google Cloud Academic All-District selection in 2019, the first ever Triton from the men's volleyball team to earn the accolade. To be considered, a student-athlete must have strong athletic credentials as a starter or important reserve, hold at least a 3.30 GPA, and be of sophomore standing or above.

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RING GETS 100th VICTORY
With a 3-0 sweep over Lindenwood at RIMAC Arena on March 12, 2019, UC San Diego head coach Kevin Ring notched his 100th win with the Tritons. 

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2020 BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL
1. Hawai'i (6 first place votes), 36 points
2. UC Santa Barbara, 28
3. Long Beach State, 23
4. UC Irvine, 19
5. CSUN, 13
6. UC San Diego, 7

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FINAL 2019 BIG WEST STANDINGS
1. Long Beach State, 10-0
2. Hawai'i, 8-2
3. UC Irvine, 5-5
4. UC Santa Barbara, 4-6
5. CSUN, 3-7
6. UC San Diego, 0-10

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HEAD COACH KEVIN RING
Now in his 15th season heading up the UC San Diego Men's Volleyball program in 2020, Kevin Ring currently owns a 113-298 (.275) overall record at the school. With a 3-0 sweep over Lindenwood at RIMAC Arena on March 12, 2019, Ring notched his 100th win with the Tritons. Ring got his start as the Tritons' team manager from 1989-91 before playing for the team for three seasons. He was an assistant coach for nine years and was named head coach in June of 2005. He has also been extensively involved with USA Volleyball. Ring earned two degrees from UC San Diego, graduating with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry in 1996, followed by a master's in chemistry in 1998.

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BIG (WEST) NEWS FOR UC SAN DIEGO ATHLETICS
On Nov. 27, 2017, UC San Diego was officially invited to become a member of the NCAA Division I Big West Conference. The Tritons begin a four-year reclassification period starting in July of 2020. During the transition, UC San Diego will be eligible for National Collegiate Championships in men's volleyball, men's and women's water polo, and men's and women's fencing. For the 2024-25 academic year, all sports will be eligible to compete in Big West and NCAA Division I Championships. Men's volleyball became an associate member of the Big West for the 2018 season and women's water polo  joins the conference in the spring of 2020. Read the full press release here.

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NCAA MEN'S VOLLEYBALL LANDSCAPE
The NCAA combines Division I and Division II teams into a single national championship, while Division III squads have a stand-alone championship. There are 47 Division I and Division II teams combined, with 38 of those making up five conferences. Another nine institutions are independent.
Big West (6)
CSUN
Hawai'i
Long Beach State
UC Irvine
UC San Diego (DII)
UC Santa Barbara

Conference Carolinas (9)
Barton (DII)
Belmont Abbey (DII)
Emmanuel (Ga.) (DII)
Erskine (DII)
King (Tenn.) (DII)
Lees-McRae (DII)
Limestone (DII)
Mount Olive (DII)
North Greenville (DII)

Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (8)
Charleston (WVa.) (DII)
George Mason
Harvard
NJIT
Penn State
Princeton
Sacred Heart
Saint Francis (Pa.)

Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (8)
Ball State
Lewis (DII)
Lindenwood (DII)
Loyola
McKendree (DII)
Ohio State
Purdue Fort Wayne
Quincy (DII)

Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (7)
BYU
Concordia (Calif.) (DII)
Grand Canyon
Pepperdine
Stanford
UCLA
USC

Independent (9)
Alderson Broaddus (DII)
Coker (DII)
Daemen (DII)
Lincoln Memorial (DII)
Puerto Rico at Bayamon (DII)
Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (DII)
Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras (DII)
Queens (NC) (DII)
Urbana (DII)

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FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are in eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!

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BE SOCIAL!
UC San Diego Athletics on Facebook (UCSDtritons)
UC San Diego Athletics on Instagram (UCSDtritons)
UC San Diego Athletics on Twitter (@UCSDtritons)
UC San Diego Men's Volleyball on Instagram (ucsdmvb)
UC San Diego Men's Volleyball on Twitter (@ucsdmvb)

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UP NEXT
Following this week's road trip, UC San Diego returns to La Jolla to host No. 8 Penn State on Wednesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. 

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About UC San Diego Athletics
With 30 national team championships, nearly 150 individual titles, and the top student-athlete graduation rate among Division II institutions in the United States, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program annually ranks as one of the most successful in the country. The Tritons sponsor 23 intercollegiate sport programs that compete on the NCAA Division I and II levels and, in the summer of 2020, will transition into full Division I status as a member of the Big West Conference. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's pre-eminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent. A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarships. In competition, almost 1,400 UC San Diego scholar-athletes have earned All-America honors.

Follow the Tritons
For complete coverage and information regarding UC San Diego Athletics, follow the Tritons online at UCSDTritons.com and through social media on Twitter (@UCSDTritons), Instagram (@UCSDTritons) and Facebook (UCSDTritons). To stay tuned in to UC San Diego Men's Volleyball, follow the team's Instagram (@UCSDmvb) or visit the Tritons on Twitter (@UCSDmvb).