After scoring a five-set win at No. 3-ranked Pepperdine last week, UCSB has risen to No. 7 on the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. The Gauchos will try to maintain or improve their position this week, as they will host No. 13 Cal State Northridge on Wednesday night, Feb. 12, and No. 6 Long Beach State on Friday night. Both matches will take place at Robertson Gym, where the Gauchos are 5-1 this season.
UCSB’s setter Jonah Seif was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Week after dishing out 101 assists in matches against USC and Pepperdine. The 6’8” sophomore leads all the nation’s setters in blocks. He had 10 against USC.
SBCC’s basketball games Wednesday night will be the annual Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser. The Vaquero women will tip off against Cuesta College at 5 pm, followed by the men at 7 pm. All proceeds and admission fees will go to the American Cancer Society.
UCSB’s men’s basketball team (6-2 in the Big West Conference) could close the half-game gap on first-place UC Irvine (7-2) this week, but it won’t be easy. On Thursday night, the Gauchos will visit Long Beach State (6-3), which is seeking its fourth consecutive regular-season title. The Gauchos defeated the 49ers last month, 64-51, but they have not recorded a season sweep of their rivals since the 2007-08 season. Thursday’s game will be televised on ESPN3. On Saturday, the Gaucho men begin a three-game homestand with a 4 pm matchup against Cal State Northridge.
The Gaucho women went 1-7 in the first round of conference action and will try to turn the tables on some teams starting Thursday night at the Thunderdome against Long Beach.
Thursday is the last day of the regular season for high school winter sports. Pairings for the CIF playoffs will be announced early next week.
UCSB’s season-opening baseball game between the Gauchos and North Carolina State on Friday has been cancelled. Severe weather in the East prevented the scheduled departure of the N.C. State team from Raleigh, N.C. The Wolfpack was slated to play a three-game weekend series at UCSB.
The schools are working on two alternative scenarios. N.C. State may attempt to travel to Santa Barbara in time for a Saturday-through-Monday series, or the teams may schedule replacement games against regional opponents.
The UCSB athletic department will provide updates at UCSBGauchos.com.
COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS
Wednesday, 2/12: Women’s basketball – Cuesta at SBCC, 5 pm. Men’s basketball – Cuesta at SBCC, 7 pm. Men’s volleyball – Cal State Northridge at UCSB, Rob Gym, 7 pm.
Thursday, 2/13: Baseball – Corban at Westmont, 2 pm. Women’s basketball – Long Beach State at UCSB, 7 pm. Men’s basketball – UCSB at Long Beach State, 7 pm (TV: ESPN3).
Friday, 2/14: Baseball – North Carolina State at UCSB, 2 pm. Men’s volleyball – San Diego Mesa at SBCC, 6 pm; Long Beach State at UCSB, Rob Gym, 7 pm.
Saturday, 2/15: Baseball – Antelope Valley at SBCC, 1 pm; North Carolina State at UCSB, 2 pm. Men’s basketball – Cal State Northridge at UCSB, 4 pm; Hope International at Westmont, 7:30 p.m. Women’s basketball – UCSB at Cal State Northridge, 4 pm; Hope International at Westmont, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, 2/16: Baseball – North Carolina State at UCSB, 1 pm.
Monday, 2/17: Men’s golf – SBCC / Western State Conference match, Alisal Ranch, 10 am.
Tuesday, 2/18: Women’s basketball – Westmont at The Master’s, 5:30 pm. Men’s basketball – Westmont at The Master’s, 7:30 pm.
Wednesday, 2/19: Baseball – West L.A. at SBCC, 2 pm; British Columbia at Westmont, 2 pm.
Thursday, 2/20: Baseball – East L.A. at SBCC, 2 pm; British Columbia at Westmont, 2 pm. Men’s basketball – UC Riverside at UCSB, 7 pm. Women’s basketball – UCSB at UC Riverside, 7 pm.
HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
Wednesday, 2/12: Girls soccer – Thacher at Cate, 3 pm; Oaks Christian at Carpinteria, 5 pm. Girls water polo – Carpinteria at Cate, 3:15 pm. Girls basketball – San Marcos at Santa Barbara, 7 pm; Ventura at Dos Pueblos, 7 pm. Boys basketball – Besant Hill at Laguna Blanca, 3:30 pm; Oaks Christian at Bishop Diego, 7 pm.
Thursday, 2/13: Girls water polo – Santa Barbara at San Marcos, 3:15 pm; Ventura at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 pm; Nordhoff at Carpinteria, 3:15 pm. Girls soccer – Nordhoff at Bishop Diego, 3:15 pm. Boys soccer – Ventura at Dos Pueblos, 5 pm. Boys basketball – Santa Barbara at San Marcos, 7 pm.
Saturday, 2/15: Wrestling – Channel League Finals at Ventura, 10 am.
Tuesday, 2/18: Girls water polo – CIF playoffs: wild-card round. Boys soccer – CIF playoffs: wild-card round.
Wednesday, 2/19: Girls water polo – CIF playoffs. Boys basketball – CIF playoffs.
Thursday, 2/20: Boys soccer – CIF playoffs. Girls basketball – CIF playoffs.
RUNNING, WALKING, CYCLING
Information for most events: sbrunning.org.
FEBRUARY: 23 – Roses en la Playa 5K, Leadbetter Beach.
MARCH: 2 – Peabody School 5K/10K, Goleta Beach Park. 8 – Girl on Fire 5K/10K, Leadbetter Beach. . . . Solvang Century, 100- and 50-mile bike rides. bikescor.com 15 – Orchard to Ocean 5K/10K/mile, Carpinteria Main School.
FUND-RAISERS
Monday, March 10 – SBCC Golf Classic, La Cumbre County Club, benefits the SBCC athletic program. Four-person scramble. Information: 805-730-4076.
Sunday, March 16 – Barbara Ireland Walk for Breast Cancer Research, Chase Palm Park. Information: 805-898-2116.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Sunday, 3/16 – 14th annual Santa Barbara Special Olympics Basketball Tournament, UCSB Thunderdome, 9 am. sosc.org.