The time has finally come.Â
The UC San Diego women's volleyball team is set to open its first-ever
Big West Conference season this week as it travels to UC Santa Barbara Friday and CSUN Saturday (please note that CSUN is currently not allowing fans at inside athletics events).
The grand opening is happening a year later than expected as the pandemic forced the entire 2020 season to be canceled.
Including this week's two matches, the Tritons will have played 13 contests on the road before hosting their first NCAA Division I match on Oct. 1 against UC Riverside.Â
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| Â Â THE SCHEDULE |
| Day, Date |
Time (PST) |
Opponent |
Location |
Arena |
Live Video |
Live Stats |
Tickets |
| Fri., 9/24 |
7:00 pm |
UC Santa Barbara |
Santa Barbara, Calif. |
Thunderdome |
Watch |
Stats |
Tickets |
| Sat., 9/25 |
7:00 pm |
CSUN |
Northridge, Calif. |
Matadome |
Watch |
Stats |
No Fans |
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ALL-TIME AGAINST THE OPPONENTS
UC San Diego vs. UC Santa Barbara: 0-3
UC San Diego vs. CSUN: Have not met
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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'sÂ
Return to Learn site.
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THE TRITONS AREÂ 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)
1Â 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)
19Â 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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THERE IT IS!
UC San Diego earned its first-ever NCAA Division I victory on Sept. 10 with a 3-1 topping of Southeastern Louisiana at New Mexico's tournament. Scores of the historic match at The Pit went 20-25, 25-23, 25-13, and 25-20. Three Tritons logged a double-digit kill total including Ava McInnes (match-high 15), Emily McDaniel (13), and Sabire Karacaova (11). Naya Dong and Susanna Limb were key on the defensive end, finishing with 24 and 18 digs, respectively. Limb also had three aces. Four Tritons had at least five blocks including Juliette Bokor (6), Grace Cannon (5), McDaniel (5), and McInnes (5). The Tritons out-hit the Lions .149 to .052.
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NAYA DONG NAMED BIG WEST CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Libero Naya Dong was recognized as the Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 13. She helped guide UC San Diego to a 2-1 record at the New Mexico Classic in Albuquerque. Dong averaged a team-high 4.9 digs/set en route to being named to the all-tournament team. She amassed a match- and career-high 24 digs against Southeastern Louisiana to help the Tritons clinch their first victory at the NCAA Division I level. In a sweep of unbeaten New Mexico, she totaled 16 digs and in a loss to Seattle she finished with nine digs. A junior from Kailua, Hawaii, Dong is in her first year with the Tritons after transferring from the University of Utah. She is the first UC San Diego women's volleyball player to win a weekly award from the Big West Conference.
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MCINNESÂ EARNS ALL-TOURNAMENT NOD IN NEW MEXICO
Outside hitter Ava McInnes was named to the New Mexico Classic All-Tournament Team after helping lead UC San Diego to a 2-1 mark, including the team's first-ever NCAA Division I victory. McInnes averaged 4.2 points and 3.2 kills, both team-highs, and totaled 10 blocks, including four solos, over 10 sets. She had a team-high nine kills while adding three blocks against Seattle to open the tourney. In the Tritons' inaugural Division I win against Southeastern Louisiana, McInnes logged a match-high 15 kills with a career-best five blocks and five digs. Finally, in a sweep of host New Mexico, she finished with eight kills, a career-high three service aces, nine digs, and two blocks.
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BOKORÂ NETS ALL-TOURNAMENT HONOR
Freshman middle Juliette Bokor was selected to the all-tournament team at the University of the Pacific's Community Classic. She hit a solid .388 (25-6-49) and averaged 3.1 points, 2.5 kills, and 0.6 blocks per set over three matches. Against Cal, Bokor had a team-high six kills and hit .400 (6-2-10). She hit .417 (6-1-12) against Pacific and her six kills were once again a team-best. Finally, she tallied 13 kills and held a .370 (13-3-27) hitting percentage vs. Tarleton State. At the net, Bokor notched four blocks against Pacific.
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THE FIRST TIME OUT
Ten players made their Triton debuts at Arizona's Cactus Classic (Aug. 27-28) 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).
Sabire Karacaova (true freshman) made her collegiate debut on Sept. 3 against Cal at the University of the Pacific's Community Classic.
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EARLY VOTING
Despite not having played a match at the NCAA Division I level, 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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AVAilable FOR DUTY
Making her collegiate debut, Ava McInnes had an impressive tournament for the Tritons at the Cactus Classic in Arizona. The sophomore middle blocker led UC San Diego in kills in two of three matches 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 posted a double-digit kill total against New Mexico State, finishing with 10. 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 their match against New Mexico State on Aug. 27 at the Cactus Classic tourney in Arizona, the last time the Tritons had played an official match was back on Dec. 5 of 2019. That's a span of 630 days that UC San Diego did not compete.
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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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| Â Â 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
(9/20) |
| Rank |
Team |
Previous Rank |
| 1 |
Texas |
1 |
| 2 |
Wisconsin |
2 |
| 3 |
Ohio State |
3 |
| 4 |
Pittsburgh |
4 |
| 5 |
Louisville |
5 |
| 6 |
Washington |
7 |
| T-7 |
Kentucky |
8 |
| T-7 |
Purdue |
9 |
| 9 |
Minnesota |
6 |
| 10 |
Baylor |
12 |
| 11 |
BYU |
15 |
| 12 |
Nebraska |
6 |
| 13 |
Oregon |
13 |
| 14 |
Stanford |
16 |
| 15 |
Utah |
10 |
| 16 |
Creighton |
17 |
| 17 |
Florida |
14 |
| 18 |
Georgia Tech |
18 |
| 19 |
UCLA |
19 |
| 20 |
Penn State |
20 |
| 21 |
Tennessee |
22 |
| 22 |
Western Kentucky |
23 |
| 23 |
Pepperdine |
24 |
| 24 |
Colorado |
25 |
| 25 |
San Diego |
21 |
Dropped Out: None
Others Receiving Votes:Â Marquette, North Carolina, Florida State, South Carolina, Ole Miss, UNLV, Boise State, Michigan, Rice
Next Poll: September 27
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HEAD COACH RICCI LUYTIES
Now in his 12th season leading the Tritons, Ricci Luyties currently holds a 182-108 (.628) 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!
UC San Diego Athletics on Facebook (UCSDtritons)
UC San Diego Athletics on Instagram (UCSDtritons)
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
UC San Diego will host its first-ever Big West Conference match on Friday, Oct. 1, when UC Riverside visits RIMAC Arena in La Jolla.
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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.
