1/16/2026
SANTA CRUZ, CA – The UC Santa Cruz Slugs delivered a statement performance Thursday afternoon, defeating visiting Vassar 3-1 (22-25, 26-24, 25-12, 25-19) at Kaiser Permanente Arena to improve to 3-0 on the young season. The victory showcased the Slugs’ resilience and depth as they battled back from an opening set loss to dominate the final two frames against a talented Vassar squad.
Riley Norman led all players with a spectacular offensive display, hammering 15 kills on a blistering .414 hitting percentage. The senior outside hitter was unstoppable in transition, contributing 17 total points while adding eight digs and two service aces to his stat line. Norman’s ability to find the floor in crucial moments energized the crowd of 120 fans and set the tone for UC Santa Cruz’s attack.
The Slugs demonstrated exceptional balance in their offensive attack, with three players reaching double figures in points. Kyle Ownbey was nearly flawless at the net, converting nine of 13 swings (.692) while adding three total blocks. The junior middle blocker’s presence deterred Vassar’s attackers throughout the afternoon and provided critical points during pivotal runs.
Fisher Noy anchored the back row with a team-high eight digs while contributing six service aces that kept Vassar’s passers scrambling. His aggressive serving disrupted the Brewers’ offensive rhythm, particularly during the third set when UC Santa Cruz seized control of the match.
Setter Logan Taylor orchestrated the balanced attack beautifully, distributing 25 assists while adding seven digs. Taylor’s court vision allowed the Slugs to exploit mismatches and keep Vassar’s blockers guessing. Caio Valente provided valuable support with 12 assists in his setter role, giving UC Santa Cruz flexibility in their offensive schemes.
AJ Contreras added seven kills and seven digs, providing steady two-way production from the outside. Nick Nayak chipped in five kills, while Evan Erickson contributed three kills and a block to round out a well-distributed offensive effort.
Vassar showed their quality despite suffering their first loss of the season. Henry Bonney led the Brewers’ attack with an impressive performance, posting 12 kills on a solid .333 hitting percentage while adding five digs and two service aces. The versatile outside hitter contributed 14.5 total points and consistently threatened the Slugs’ defense throughout all four sets.
Walter Birnbaum provided steady production with eight kills and six digs, though his .091 hitting efficiency reflected the strong defensive pressure applied by UC Santa Cruz. Birnbaum also contributed three service aces, part of Vassar’s six aces on the afternoon as the Brewers tried to keep the Slugs’ passers off balance.
Armaan Desai matched Birnbaum’s eight-kill output while hitting a more efficient .238, adding a block and a block assist to his all-around effort. The duo combined for 16 of Vassar’s 35 total kills, shouldering a significant portion of the offensive load.
Setter Parker Schoenl orchestrated the Vassar offense skillfully, distributing 24 assists while contributing seven digs and a service ace. Despite the loss, Schoenl kept the Brewers competitive, particularly during the tightly contested opening two sets.
Doug Chandler made the most of his opportunities, hitting an outstanding .571 with five kills in just seven attempts. His efficient attacking provided crucial points when Vassar needed them most. Tucker Shearn added quality production off the bench with two kills on .500 hitting and five digs, giving the Brewers a spark in the middle sets.
Casey McMenamin anchored the back row with a match-high nine digs, leading all players in that category and keeping numerous UC Santa Cruz attacks alive for Vassar’s transition game.
The match turned decisively in the third set, where UC Santa Cruz exploded for a dominant 25-12 victory. The Slugs hit an impressive .387 in the frame while limiting Vassar to just .033 efficiency. That momentum carried into the fourth set, where UC Santa Cruz built an early advantage and never looked back.
The Slugs finished with 45 kills on .241 hitting compared to Vassar’s 35 kills and .174 efficiency. UC Santa Cruz’s serving attack generated 10 aces against 20 errors, while their defensive effort produced 47 digs to Vassar’s 34.
Marcus Donchuanchom and Andres Espinoza provided steady defensive work in the libero rotation, combining for eight digs. The Slugs’ defensive specialists allowed UC Santa Cruz to convert numerous Vassar attacks into transition opportunities.
For Vassar, the loss is their first of the season, dropping them to 0-1 overall. The Brewers showed flashes of quality throughout the match, particularly in the closely contested second set that required extra points to decide.
UC Santa Cruz continues to build impressive early season momentum with their perfect 3-0 start. The Slugs have now won 12 consecutive sets after dropping the opening frame, demonstrating remarkable composure and the ability to make effective adjustments.
The victory provides UC Santa Cruz with strong momentum heading into Friday’s highly anticipated matchup against Cal Lutheran, a must-see contest that will test the Slugs’ undefeated start. With balanced scoring, aggressive serving, and a defense willing to extend rallies, the Slugs are positioning themselves as a team to watch in Division III volleyball this season.
Thursday’s match showcased the competitive spirit and high level of play that makes Division III volleyball such an exciting product, with both teams leaving everything on the court in front of an appreciative home crowd.