On October 30, 2026, the University of California, Santa Cruz Banana Slugs women’s volleyball team lost two matches on the road against nationally ranked opponents. The Banana Slugs fell 0-3 to No. 1 Illinois Wesleyan University (22-25, 17-25, 22-25) in Bloomington, Illinois, followed by a 0-3 defeat to No. 14 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (18-25, 19-25, 14-25) in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Setter Margo Melgoza led UC Santa Cruz in assists with 27 against Illinois Wesleyan and 21 versus Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Defensive specialist Shiraz Benyoucef posted a team-high 15 digs in the match against Illinois Wesleyan, highlighting the Banana Slugs’ defensive efforts against the top-ranked Titans.
The first match featured competitive sets for UC Santa Cruz, which included a 6-0 scoring run to begin the third set and multiple late ties before Illinois Wesleyan edged out the sets. Offensive contributions came from multiple players including Maddie Marshall, Olivia Phillips, Charlotte Skulte, and Alice Taylor, who combined for vital kills throughout the matches.
In the second match, the Banana Slugs showed early competitiveness against Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a service ace from Rylan Vlasich and offensive efforts from Ella Sniezek, Gabia Paliulis, Khloe Pavia, and Kate Lau. Despite these contributions, errors and scoring runs by the Bluegolds prevented sustained momentum, culminating in a straight-set loss.
UC Santa Cruz is scheduled to continue their road trip with a match against Millikin University on October 31, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (10:00 a.m. Central Time) as they look to improve their record in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
CSB Take
The UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs women’s volleyball team confronted two highly ranked national opponents in back-to-back matches and demonstrated resilience and fight throughout. While the straight-set losses underscore areas needing improvement, strong performances from setter Margo Melgoza and defensive specialist Shiraz Benyoucef show foundational strengths. Building on these experiences will be essential as the Banana Slugs continue their season and strive for success within the CCAA.
Source: Original report
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