SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UC Riverside gave UC Santa Barbara all they could handle for the second time this season but fell 3-0 to the Gauchos in the 2023 finale at the UCSB Events Center.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• UC Riverside matched the Gauchos out of the gate with a .333 hitting percentage, later taking an 11-10 lead on a Santa Barbara attack error.  
• Sophia Ewalefo was a crucial part of UCR's comeback attempt in set one, hitting .625 with five kills on eight swings while adding two digs.  
• The Highlanders went on separate 3-1 runs late in set two that included one of Nikki Hughes' five kills on the night, matching a career high. 
• Tylee Fuller recorded her sixth service ace in nine matches to give UCR a 4-3 lead early in set four.  
• Back-to-back kills from Hughes later in the set finished a 3-0 scoring run for the Highlanders that put them just a point behind and forced a Gaucho timeout.  

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS 

• Vargas-Deason and Ewalefo led UCR with 10 kills apiece while Ewalefo was one dig shy of a double double.  
• Makena Tong recorded her second double double of the season and in her last three matches with 17 assists and 10 digs, also reaching 300 assists on the season.  

UP NEXT 

• UC Riverside has closed out the 2023 season.