The University of California, Santa Barbara Women’s Volleyball team dropped a 3-0 match to the Colorado State Rams on September 11, 2026, in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Rams secured set victories of 25-22, 25-16 and 25-19 in the non-conference matchup.
The Gauchos held a late lead in the first set, including a four-point run that put them ahead 20-17. Although UC Santa Barbara maintained the advantage until 21-21 and the set was tied 22-22, Colorado State rallied to win the set 25-22. The second set saw the Rams pull away early, winning 25-16, despite a notable first career ace by UCSB’s Kate Martin. The third set was competitive with the Gauchos tying the score at 11-11, but Colorado State finished strong to close out the match.
Auburn Tomkinson led UCSB offensively with 10 kills and a .364 hitting percentage, marking her second consecutive night with double-digit kills. Avery Gibbs registered a career-best six kills, while Reilly Goueth set career highs with five kills, two digs and three blocks.
Defensively, Cortni Youngblood recorded 26 receptions with no errors, and UCSB out-dug Colorado State 43 to 32. Setter Ava Zamora contributed five assists in the match.
Colorado State improved to 5-2 on the season while UCSB fell to 4-3. The Gauchos will continue their road trip with a game against the University of South Dakota at 12 p.m. MT on September 12, 2026, at Moby Arena.
CSB Take
Despite the straight-set loss, UC Santa Barbara’s performance featured strong individual efforts, especially with key offensive contributions and steady defense. Maintaining leads late in sets shows the team’s potential to compete and close out challenging matches. As the Gauchos face a quick turnaround against South Dakota, building on these positives will be essential for growth and success in their demanding schedule.
Source: Original report
