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Purdue Fort Wayne
UC Santa Barbara
Gauchos Tame 'Dons for Second Night
3/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
March 3, 2007
Fort Wayne, IN - No. 4 UC-Santa Barbara rode the rush of a huge game two win, to sweep No. 8 IPFW, 3-0 on Saturday night at the Hilliard Gates Sports Center.
After winning the first set 30-23, the Gauchos captured a marathon second set by the score of 39-37. Set number three was anti-climatic as UCSB finished off the 'Dons 30-18.
From the opening serve, UCSB sprinted out of the gate for a 9-1 lead.
IPFW drew to within one on a number of occasions, but couldn't manage to take the lead.
Leading 16-15, the Gauchos went on an 8-2 run, highlighted by a pair of kills from senior opposite Evan Patak. Senior middle David Kennedy finished off the game with a kill off an assist from setter Bart Kowalski.
Game two was an epic struggle.
IPFW had game point in hand, but a service error tied it at 30.
Tied at 33-all, Patak put a ball to the floor to give UCSB a game-point.
IPFW fought it off on a kill by junior outside hitter C.J. Macias.
IPFW held a game-point at 37-36, but junior outside hitter Michael Fisher tied it with a kill.
From there, it was a kill from junior middle Theo Brunner and an IPFW attack error that gave the Gauchos game two.
The loss took the wind out of the 1,345 in attendance, and the 'Dons. UCSB cruised to the set three win with most of the starters on the sideline.
Patak put down a game-high 15 kills for the Gauchos. Fisher added 11 for UCSB who hit .371 in the match.
Macias was the only 'Don to hit in double figures with 10 kills. Freshman libero Matt Pliske led the Mastodon defensive effort with 11 digs.
With the loss, IPFW falls to 9-5. The have lost their last four and five of their last six after an 8-0 start.
The Gauchos improve to 14-6.
IPFW will now head to Puerto Rico to take on the University of Puerto Rica Mayaguez and Puerto Rico Rio Piedras.
~Dons~
