ALLIANCE, Ohio — The No. 2 UC Santa Cruz men’s volleyball team continued its unbeaten start to the 2026 season Friday night, improving to 5-0 with a four-set victory over Mount Union, 3–1 (25-18, 24-26, 25-16, 25-17).
The Slugs delivered another efficient offensive performance, hitting .358 as a team and controlling much of the match with balanced scoring and steady defensive work. Riley Norman paced UC Santa Cruz with 15 kills while adding 10 digs for a double-double effort. Caio Valente directed the attack with 29 assists, keeping the Slugs’ offense in rhythm throughout the night.
Strong Start Sets the Tone
UC Santa Cruz came out sharp in the opening set, building an early 5-2 advantage behind kills from Evan Erickson and Noy Fisher. Mount Union stayed within striking distance through the middle portion of the frame, but the Slugs created separation with a key 6-2 surge that pushed the lead to 20-13.
Norman contributed service pressure during the run, while Nick Nayak and AJ Contreras added terminal swings to keep the momentum firmly with UCSC. Kyle Ownbey sealed the set with a solo block as the Slugs claimed the opener 25-18.
Mount Union Answers in Set Two
The Purple Raiders responded with their strongest stretch of the match in set two, grinding out a narrow 26-24 win to even the contest. UC Santa Cruz remained efficient offensively, but Mount Union managed to edge the Slugs late in the tight frame.
UCSC Dominates the Third
UC Santa Cruz quickly regained control in the third set with one of its most decisive runs of the night. The Slugs stormed out to a 10-3 lead, fueled by a multi-player offensive push that included kills from Contreras, Nayak, Norman, Erickson, and Fisher.
The advantage grew to 20-10, and UCSC never let Mount Union back into the set, closing out a convincing 25-16 win to move ahead 2-1.
Closing with Authority
The Slugs carried that momentum into the fourth, opening with a 7-3 lead and expanding it to 15-9 as Valente continued to spread the offense effectively. Mount Union made a late push and cut the deficit to 19-16, but UC Santa Cruz finished strong, closing the match on a 6-1 run to secure the 25-17 set win and the 3-1 victory overall.
Next Up
UC Santa Cruz will remain on the court Saturday with a busy slate, taking on Misericordia at 1:00 p.m. before facing No. 17 Baldwin Wallace later in the afternoon.
At 5-0, the Slugs have opened the year with both consistency and balance, and Friday’s performance offered another clear sign that UCSC is building early-season momentum as one of Division III’s top contenders.