RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside took top-of-the-conference UC Santa Barbara to a full five sets on Thursday night at the SRC Arena, dropping a spirited 3-2 contest to the Gauchos.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• UC Riverside hung tough with the conference's top squad in set one, trailing just 15-12 at the first media timeout with two kills apiece from Anya Green, Sydnee Rowe and Sophia Ewalefo. The Gauchos, though, ended set one on a 5-1 run to grab the 1-0 advantage after a 25-18 opening win. 
• UCR went on a 7-1 run late in set two to force a Gaucho timeout up 19-18 with a kill each from Green and Mylei Vargas-Deason in that span. Vargas-Deason put down her seventh kill of the night - all of which came in set two - to even the match at one set apiece after a 26-24 win. 
• Green served up an ace in set three to put UCR up 10-6 before forcing UC Santa Barbara to call time, but the Gauchos responded and took set three as Vargas-Deason reached double-digit kills for the second time in Big West play while Beatriz Silva reached 12 digs. 
• Green served up another timely service ace, this one to set up set point in frame number four before Vargas-Deason slammed home her 17th kill on the evening to force a decisive fifth set. 
• UCR would not give up the fight, showing signs of life in set five after starting out down 10-2. 

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

• UC Riverside became just the fourth team this season to take UC Santa Barbara to a fifth set, twice battling back on Thursday from being down a set. 
• Vargas-Deason put up a season-high 18 kills against the Gauchos on Thursday - seven of which came in a second set that saw UCR outhit the opposition .171 to .162. 
• UCR's 53 kills on Thursday were the most in Big West play this season. The Highlanders also reached 60 digs for the fifth time this season and fourth in Big West play. Jessica Dean and Beatriz Silva combined for 34 of them while nine different Highlanders accounted for a dig overall.
• Green reached double-digit kills for the second time this season, hitting an impressive .533 on Thursday with 10 kills on 15 swings. The senior also added an assist, two aces, four digs and a block.

UP NEXT

• UC Riverside is back in action on Saturday, October 7 to host Cal Poly at the SRC Arena. First serve is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on ESPN+.