After kicking off its NCAA Division I era last week at the University of Arizona's Cactus Classic, UC San Diego competes in tournament number two this week as the Tritons travel to Stockton, Calif., for the University of the Pacific Community Classic.
The Tritons are slated to take on Cal and Pacific on Friday, Sept. 3, and finish against Tarleton State on Saturday, Sept. 4. All-time, UC San Diego is 0-1 against Cal and has never matched up against Pacific and Tarleton State.
UC San Diego is hunting for its first DI victory after going 0-3 in Tucson with losses against New Mexico State, Marist, and Arizona. On opening day Friday, the Tritons played 10 sets as the matches against the Aggies and Red Foxes both went to five sets. Arizona swept UC San Diego Saturday.
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| THE MORE YOU KNOW! |
| Team |
Nickname |
Location |
Enrollment |
Conference |
Roster |
Schedule/Results |
Statistics |
2020 Records |
| California |
Golden Bears |
Berkeley, Calif. |
42,347 |
Pac-12 |
Roster |
Schedule/Results |
Statistics |
1-21, 1-21 |
| Pacific |
Tigers |
Stockton, Calif. |
6,447 |
West Coast |
Roster |
Schedule/Results |
Statistics |
2-7, 2-7 |
| Tarleton State |
Texans |
Stephenville, Texas |
14,000 |
Western Athletic |
Roster |
Schedule/Results |
Statistics |
13-11, 6-8 |
| UC San Diego |
Tritons |
La Jolla, Calif. |
40,483 |
Big West |
Roster |
Schedule/Results |
Statistics |
No Season |
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UC SAN DIEGO AND COVID-19
UC San Diego's nationally renowned Return to Learn program was created to return to in-person teaching, learning, conducting pioneering research and serving our communities in the safest way possible. The program has three adaptive pillars that are central to our strategy to resume on-campus activity: risk mitigation, viral detection, and intervention. For the latest information on UC San Diego and COVID-19, please visit the University's
Return to Learn site.
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THE TRITONS ARE ON THE WORLDWIDE LEADER!
Most UC San Diego home men's and women's basketball games, men's and women's soccer matches, men's and women's volleyball matches, baseball, and softball games are broadcast live on ESPN+. For more information on where to watch UC San Diego volleyball, visit UCSDTritons.com/live.
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GAME DAY HAS A NEW LOOK
Triton fans now have a whole new way to access game day information, as game programs have gone digital! Fans can GO HERE from their smart phone or scan the QR code at the entrance to RIMAC Arena for everything they need to know about each home match including updated rosters, schedules, and stats for each team, as well as links to watch on ESPN+.
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ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team (since the 2000-01 academic year), the entire UC San Diego athletics program has begun a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of the Big West Conference for the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, all sports will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
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THE 2021 TRITONS
2019 Starters Returning (2)
9 Trinity Castaneda (Sr., OH)
10 Isabela Dobra (Sr., S)
2019 Starters Lost (4)
6 Jessica Rieble (MB)
7 Claudia Mathews (MB)
12 Gina Cortesi (OH)
21 Sydney Tekstra (OH)
2019 Primary Liberos Returning (1)
1 Susanna Limb (Sr.)
2019 Primary Liberos Lost (1)
15 Alyson Penrose
Other 2019 Letterwinners Returning (2)
8 Emily Hubbard (Sr., OH)
11 Dani Mason (So., MB/OPP)
Other 2019 Letterwinners Lost (5)
2 Brie Severino (S)
3 Rebecca Whitney (OH)
5 Sarah Rieble (OH/OPP)
19 Josie Collier (OPP)
22 Marin Willick (OH)
2019 Redshirts Returning (1)
Cindy Tran (Grad, MB)
2020 First Year Players Returning (7)
4 Ava McInnes (So., MB)
6 Grace Cannon (So., MB)
7 Jovana Papaz (Sr., OH)
14 Morgan Gallagher (Sr., OH)
16 Izzi Strand (So., S)
23 Natalie Repetti (So., L)
24 Odeya Russo (So., OH)
Newcomers (6)
0 Izabella Santa Cruz (Fr., S)
2 Naya Dong (Jr., L)
3 Juliette Bokor (Fr., MB)
5 Sabire Karakaova (Fr., OH)
17 Emily McDaniel (Fr., MB)
33 Zaria Henderson (Fr., OH)
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EARLY VOTING
Despite not having played a match at the NCAA Division I level yet, UC San Diego received votes in the preseason AVCA National Poll, which was released on August 16. The Tritons were one of 19 teams outside the top-25 but receiving votes. Here's a look at the entire list.
Southern California 105; Creighton 69; Missouri 51; Hawai'i 47; LSU 41; UNLV 33; Michigan 28; Marquette 27; Dayton 25; Kansas State 13; Tennessee 13; Kansas 11; Texas State 11; Illinois 9; Arizona 8; UC San Diego 8; Wright State 5; Cal Poly 4; Arkansas 2
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ON THE CALendar
UC San Diego and Cal have played once before. On Sept. 12, 1983, the Bears defeated the Tritons, 2-0, at the All-Cals Invitational at UC Riverside.
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TRITON DEBUTS
Ten players made their Triton debuts at Arizona's Cactus Classic in Tucson including Juliette Bokor (true freshman), Naya Dong (first year transfer), Zaria Henderson (true freshman), Dani Mason (2019 redshirt, 2020 season canceled), Emily McDaniel (true freshman), Ava McInnes (2020 season canceled), Jovana Papaz (2020 freshman season canceled), Natalie Repetti (2020 season canceled), Odeya Russo (2020 season canceled), and Izzi Strand (2020 season canceled).
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AVAilable FOR DUTY
Making her collegiate debut, Ava McInnes had an impressive tournament for the Tritons last week in Arizona. The sophomore middle blocker led UC San Diego in kills in two of three matches at the Cactus Classic with 24 against Marist and seven against host Arizona. McInnes' 24 kills were the most by a Triton in a single match since December of 2015 (25, Danielle Dahle). She also added 24 digs vs. Marist for her first career double-double. That was the most digs by a Triton in a single match since September of 2019 (31, Alyson Penrose). McInnes also hit a double-digit kill total against New Mexico State, finishing with 10. On Monday, she was tabbed a UCSDTritons.com Athlete of the Week for her outstanding play.
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IT'S BEEN A MINUTE
Prior to last week's Cactus Classic tourney in Arizona, the last time the Tritons had played an official match was back on Dec. 5 of 2019. It was a 3-2 loss against Alaska Anchorage in the opening round of the NCAA Division II West Regional at Cal State San Bernardino.
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CAPTAIN CRUNCH
The Tritons are going with a tri-captain scenario again this season. Filling the roles are senior libero Susanna Limb, sophomore middle blocker/opposite Dani Mason, and graduate student middle blocker Cindy Tran. Limb and Tran both served as a tri-captain in 2020 as well.
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SPEAKING OF CINDY
You may have heard the name Cindy Tran before. The middle blocker from Orange County has been listed on UC San Diego's roster since 2018, the year she joined the Tritons as a junior transfer from Concordia Irvine. Her career in La Jolla started off strong as she earned All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) honorable mention after starting all 23 of the team's matches. She led UC San Diego in service aces, was second in blocks, and third in points, kills, and digs. Unfortunately, Tran was forced to sit out her entire senior campaign in 2019 after injuring her knee in a preseason exhibition at Cal State Fullerton. Following surgery, rehab, and graduation, Tran came back strong as a grad student in 2020. However, more heartbreak followed as the Big West Conference canceled all fall sports competition due to the pandemic. Now a second-year graduate student in public health, the determined Tran returns yet again to finish what she started. To read a recent feature story on Tran, click here.
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| 2021 BOX SCORES AND RECAPS |
| Date |
Winning Team |
Score |
Losing Team |
Score |
Box Score |
Recap |
| 8/28/21 |
Arizona |
3 |
UC San Diego |
0 |
Box Score |
Recap |
| 8/27/21 |
Marist |
3 |
UC San Diego |
2 |
Box Score |
Recap |
| 8/27/21 |
New Mexico State |
3 |
UC San Diego |
2 |
Box Score |
Recap |
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2021 BIG WEST CONFERENCE STANDINGS
(Through August 31) |
| Rank |
Team |
BWC Record |
Overall Record |
| 1 |
Cal State Bakersfield |
0-0 |
3-0 |
|
Cal State Fullerton |
0-0 |
2-0 |
| 3 |
Hawaii |
0-0 |
2-1 |
|
Long Beach State |
0-0 |
2-1 |
|
UC Irvine |
0-0 |
2-1 |
| 6 |
UC Riverside |
0-0 |
1-1 |
| 7 |
Cal Poly |
0-0 |
1-2 |
|
CSUN |
0-0 |
1-2 |
|
UC Santa Barbara |
0-0 |
1-2 |
| 10 |
UC Davis |
0-0 |
0-3 |
|
UC San Diego |
0-0 |
0-3 |
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| 2021 BIG WEST CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES POLL |
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
First-Place Votes |
| 1 |
Hawaii |
117 |
7 |
| 2 |
Cal Poly |
111 |
4 |
| 3 |
UC Santa Barbara |
90 |
0 |
| 4 |
Long Beach State |
88 |
0 |
| 5 |
UC Davis |
83 |
0 |
| 6 |
UC Irvine |
57 |
0 |
| 7 |
CSUN |
50 |
0 |
|
UC San Diego |
50 |
0 |
| 9 |
CSU Bakersfield |
35 |
0 |
| 10 |
Cal State Fullerton |
25 |
0 |
| 11 |
UC Riverside |
20 |
0 |
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2021 AVCA NATIONAL POLL
(August 30) |
| Rank |
Team |
Previous Rank |
| 1 |
Texas |
1 |
| 2 |
Wisconsin |
2 |
| 3 |
Kentucky |
3 |
| 4 |
Nebraska |
5 |
| 5 |
Florida |
6 |
| 6 |
Ohio State |
11 |
| 7 |
Pittsburgh |
9 |
| 8 |
Purdue |
8 |
| 9 |
Baylor |
10 |
| 10 |
Minnesota |
7 |
| 11 |
Washington |
4 |
| 12 |
Louisville |
13 |
| T-13 |
BYU |
15 |
| T-13 |
Oregon |
14 |
| 15 |
Western Kentucky |
16 |
| 16 |
Georgia Tech |
24 |
| 17 |
Penn State |
12 |
| 18 |
UCLA |
17 |
| 19 |
Utah |
19 |
| 20 |
Stanford |
21 |
| 21 |
Pepperdine |
22 |
| 22 |
San Diego |
20 |
| 23 |
Michigan |
NR |
| 24 |
South Carolina |
NR |
| T-25 |
Marquette |
NR |
| T-25 |
Washington State |
18 |
Dropped Out: Rice (23), Notre Dame (25)
Others Receiving Votes: Creighton, Notre Dame, Rice, Tennessee, Hawaii, Denver, UNLV, Illinois, Loyola Marymount
Next Poll: September 6
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HEAD COACH RICCI LUYTIES
Now in his 12th season leading the Tritons, Ricci Luyties currently holds a 179-103 (.635) overall record at UC San Diego. Four times Luyties has paced UC San Diego to at least 20 victories, which includes an impressive 26-6 (.813) campaign in 2013. The Tritons have qualified for NCAA Division II postseason play six times under Luyties, reaching the regional semifinals in four of those years. In 2010 and again in 2013, UC San Diego climbed as high as No. 8 in the national rankings. Prior to coming to La Jolla, Luyties was head coach at Southern Mississippi for six seasons. As a setter at UCLA, Luyties helped lead the Bruins to four consecutive national championships. He was named the NCAA's Most Valuable Player twice and was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame. At the international level, Luyties, alongside Karch Kiraly and Steve Timmons, won a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He also played on the beach for 12 years, competing on the AVP Tour and FIVB World Tour with partners such as Kiraly and Adam Johnson. For Luyties' full bio, click here.
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GEAR UP
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, click here.
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FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego athletic events, and much more!
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BE SOCIAL!
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UC San Diego Athletics on Twitter (@UCSDtritons)
UC San Diego Women's Volleyball on Instagram (ucsd_wvb)
UC San Diego Women's Volleyball on Twitter (@ucsdwvb)
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UP NEXT
Next week, UC San Diego heads to Albuquerque to play in a tournament hosted by the University of New Mexico. On Friday, Sept. 10, the Tritons play Seattle and Southeastern Louisiana. The following day, they take on the host Lobos at the Johnson Center.
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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
