#1 Men's Volleyball Downs #16 UC Santa Cruz in Three-Set Battle

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Pushed by a balanced attack, the top-ranked Wentworth Institute of Technology men's volleyball team (19-0) eclipsed the challenge from No. 16-ranked UC Santa Cruz (11-9), topping the Slugs in straight sets to their 19^th straight win.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Two kills by senior Jacob LaBouliere (Pipersville, Pa.) gave the Leopards a 3-2 edge in the opening set before a finish by senior Jacob Waga (East Northport, N.Y.) pushed the lead to 6-5. Kills by Waga and graduate student Brandon Dunz (Lake View, N.Y.) continued the advantage to 9-8 before kills by Waga and LaBouliere pushed the lead to 13-8. A service ace by Waga paced Wentworth's lead to 19-14. A slew of kills by Waga, LaBouliere, Dunz, and sophomore Nicolai Bell (Moraga, Calif.) helped the Leopards clinch a 25-21 set win.
•  The Slugs took a 5-2 lead in the second set before a Waga kill later knotted the score at six aside. Another kill by Waga pushed the lead to 11-9 before the two teams traded scores, working the set to 21-21. UC Santa Cruz took a 23-21 set lead before Wentworth roared back, with two kills by Waga and others by LaBouliere and Dunz, to give the Leopards a 26-24 set win.
• The two teams swapped scores to a 7-7 tie in the third set before the Slugs took a 13-9 lead. A kill by Waga later tied the score at 17-all before a kill by LaBouliere, while behind, later clipped the deficit to 21-19. The Slugs took a 24-20 lead, however, Wentworth clawed their way back, with two kills by Bell and another by Dunz completing the comeback for the Leopards in a 29-27 set win.

SERIES NOTES:

• With the win, the Black & Gold knot the all-time series at two matches aside.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards jump back into GNAC action Wednesday night at Regis.

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