Next Match:
at San Diego State
9/18/2025 | 7 PM
Sep. 18 (Thu) / 7 PM
at San Diego State
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — UC San Diego women’s volleyball suffered its first five-set loss of the season to Texas Tech, 16-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-21, 7-15, on Saturday morning at Rolle Activity Center. It was the first ever meeting between the Tritons (1-8) and the Red Raiders (6-3).
Jasmine Saran led UC San Diego with 12 kills, hitting at a .345 clip and contributing two total blocks. Molly McCluskey (11 kills, 12 digs) and Ireland McNees (11 kills, 11 digs) both recorded double-doubles in the contest, with McCluskey leading the team in aces (3) and McNees leading the team in blocks (3). Maija Nepszy facilitated the offense with a season-high 46 assists and joined McNees with three blocks. Paulina Ballie led the efforts in the back court with 18 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego opened the first set with determination, as Saran contributed two early kills, setting the pace with a 9-6 lead. Despite this initial momentum, a series of service aces and attack errors allowed Texas Tech to rally, scoring eight unanswered points to take the lead 14-9. The efforts of the Tritons, highlighted by additional kills from McNees and Maria Fernanda Afonso, narrowed the gap slightly before Texas Tech sealed the set with a 25-16 victory.
The teams traded points to begin the second set, battling to a 10-10 tie. Texas Tech put together a 5-1 scoring effort to create distance midway through the set. The Tritons found momentum with McCluskey delivering a service ace and Saran executing key kills, contributing to a crucial 5-0 run that turned a 15-11 deficit into a 17-15 lead. UC San Diego put together another five-point run late in the set behind three kills by McCluskey and one from Afonso to reach set point 24-19. Texas Tech fought off four consecutive set points before a kill by Afonso ended the second set, 25-23, in favor of the Tritons.
The third set began with Texas Tech quickly establishing a 4-0 lead, capitalizing on two consecutive kills and errors from Tritons. UC San Diego responded with a kill from McCluskey, igniting a run that tied the game at 7-7, highlighted by Nepszy’s kill and a service ace. Despite a strong effort from McNees, who contributed multiple kills, Texas Tech pulled ahead once more, reaching a 25-20 set victory.
The fourth set was marked by a back-and-forth exchange as both teams traded points early on, with McCluskey and Madison Johnson securing crucial kills for the Tritons. A pivotal moment came when Tritons managed a five-point scoring run, tying the game at 14-14 with consecutive blocks and kills, including notable contributions from McNees and Saran. The Tritons then pulled ahead, securing the set 25-21, with Baillie sealing the victory with a decisive service ace.
The fifth set began with five-point run by Texas Tech to quickly build a 6-1 lead, putting the Tritons on the defensive. Despite a strong performance from Saran, who recorded crucial kills, Texas Tech’s consistent offense maintained their advantage. Ultimately, the efforts from Nepszy facilitating key plays couldn’t shift the momentum, as Texas Tech sealed the set 15-7.
TRITON TIDBITS
UP NEXT
The Tritons will return to San Diego to face crosstown foes at San Diego State (Sept. 18) and at USD (Sept. 20) as well as play a neutral match against Yale (Sept. 19). Streaming and live statistics information will be available via UCSDTritons.com.
Article partially generated with FanWord.
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.