LA JOLLA, Calif. – Wrapping up their first weekend of conference action, UC San Diego (8-6, 0-2 Big West) came up short in a five-set match to Cal Poly (7-7, 1-1 Big West) on Saturday night at LionTree Arena.  

Ava McInnes led the way for her squad against the Mustangs by recording 17 kills, while Zaria Henderson added a double-double of her own with 14 kills and 11 digs. Jasmine Saran also served as a key piece for the Tritons' offense and defense by contributing eight kills and eight total blocks in her team's second conference match.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The early action in La Jolla was a back-and-forth battle that saw each team tied at 11-apiece through the first 22 points at LionTree Arena. UC San Diego was then able to build some separation by winning four straight points thanks to kills from Lauren Brooker and McInnes and a pair of Mustang attack errors. The Tritons continued their control of the opening set by winning 25-18 on an impressive block from Shara Da Silva and Brooker.
 
Continuing the momentum from the first set, the Tritons raced out to an early 6-1 lead in the first set to force the Mustangs into an early timeout. Cal Poly was able to claw their way back closer as they evened the score at 16-all before UC San Diego was able to regain control. Saran came through in a key spot for her team with the set-winning kill to give the Tritons the 25-23 win to take the first two sets.
 
Cal Poly didn't back down despite trailing two sets to none, as they came out aggressive in the third set leading 11-6 before the Tritons took a timeout. UC San Diego then answered with three straight points thanks to a Henderson kill and a pair of Mustang attack errors. Cal Poly went on to win the third set by a 25-17 margin.
 
Competing in a key fourth set, each team took turns trading blows and fighting for momentum as the Tritons grabbed a 13-12 lead following a Henderson service ace. The visiting Mustangs were able to retake control of the set going on a late 4-0 run to secure the 25-19 win to force a deciding fifth set.
 
Playing for all of the marbles late, the Tritons were able to get off to a quick start as they took an 11-9 lead following another impressive kill from Henderson. The visiting Mustangs would then go on to right the ship as they earned the 15-13 set victory to win the match in five sets.
 
TRITONS TIDBITS

• McInnes was able to reach the 1,000 kill milestone for her collegiate career during tonight's match.
• Henderson recorded her second double-double in her last three matches and reached double digits in kills for the fourth time this season.
• With the loss, the Tritons moved to 0-5 in the all-time series with Cal Poly.

UP NEXT
The Tritons will now head out on the road for their first conference match away from La Jolla as they will face Long Beach State (7-4, 1-0 Big West) on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m. Thursday's match will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live statistics available on UCSDTritons.com.
 
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 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.