SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara women’s volleyball team is ready for its second season under head coach Matt Jones.

The defending Big West regular season champions will begin the season on Friday, Aug. 30, when they travel to Tallahassee to face No. 20 Florida State, No. 25 Georgia and South Florida. They will then face six other opponents that appeared in the AVCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, including No. 4 Pittsburgh and No. 5 Stanford, who will come to the Thunderdome for the Gauchos’ home opener on Sept. 10.

“We want to be great and expect our program to be able to compete at the top of the conference, but right now we’re really focused on getting a good position on the non-conference slate,” Jones said. “Our main goal is to make the NCAA Tournament and have a resume that allows us to do that.”

UC Santa Barbara will play 12 non-conference games before Big West play begins on Sept. 27. The Gauchos, who were ranked No. 4 in the Big West Preseason Coaches’ Poll, will face Cal State Bakersfield and CSUN on the road in the first weekend of play.

With the new season, the lineup also changes. Let’s take a look at this season’s lineup by position:

MIDDLE BLOCKER

All-Big West Second Team honoree and captain Andi Kreiling is one of the pieces returning for the Gauchos this season. The middle blocker finished last season as one of the NCAA’s top 10 blockers, and Coach Jones believes her defensive performances improved even more over the summer. In addition, Kreiling has also become more comfortable in the middle, making her an even bigger asset to the Gauchos.

The return to the center is also important for the Gauchos Grace Wuischpardwho continued to develop as a leader on the team. She spent the offseason working on her technique as she improved in closing the block and hitting tight angles on offense.

Sandra Thomas is another middle blocker returning to the offense for the Gauchos. Coach Jones said Thomas is one of the best cross-blockers at the center position because of her ability to cover the block. She has also improved on offense and has become a bigger threat.

One of the new faces in the program is Layanna Greenwho transferred to UC Santa Barbara from Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Conference. She was named an All-MVC First Team selection and earned honorable mention in the AVCA All-Midwest Regional for the 2023 season. Green played with the Gauchos in the spring, which helped her get comfortable in the Gauchos’ systems in the fall.

Anna Boatner is also new to UC Santa Barbara. The freshman comes from Keller, Texas, where she played for Keller High School. Coach Jones is excited to watch Boatner continue to develop as a player, as he has already seen healthy development from a young middle schooler.

SETTER

One of the Gauchos’ returning setters is Grace McIntoshwho continues to be one of the leaders of this team as she is a captain alongside Kreiling. McIntosh is as reliable as can be and has only improved since her stellar performance last year in the team’s 6-2 offense. Coach Jones is also impressed with her ability to put her hitters in good situations on offense.

Another experienced setter returning to the lineup is Michelle Zhao. She is entering her second season with the program after transferring from Washington State. Coach Jones said Zhao is great at creating plays out of system and is getting better each day at running UC Santa Barbara’s offensive system.

Also returning as a setter for UC Santa Barbara is Milan Rex. She served as the second setter in the Gauchos’ 6-2 offense last season and has continued to hone her skills. Coach Jones was impressed with her ability to adjust in transition and use her strength to move the ball really well.

The two new setters in the team are freshmen Katrina Catalan And Harper Hall. Catalan is recovering from knee surgery and is working hard to get back on the court. Hall has been training with the team since arriving in Santa Barbara this summer and has shown a lot of creativity and talent in the passer position. She is also very deceptive, which Coach Jones really likes about Hall.

Outside attacker
Sophie Reavis was a key part of the team’s offense last season when she played as a forward. Now Coach Jones wants to transition Reavis from a forward to an outside hitter as her passing has improved in the offseason, as has her efficiency at the left pin.

In addition to Reavis, there are two sophomore outside attackers in Eva Travis And Emma McDermott. Both Travis and McDermott are returning to action from injuries. As for Travis, Coach Jones said her athleticism makes her the team’s most dynamic back-row attacker, which will benefit her as a rotation six. McDermott is also an athlete that Coach Jones believes can be a rotation six player as her back-row defense continues to develop along with her offensive decision-making.

Madison Triplett is one of two freshman outside hitters joining the team. Triplett comes from El Capitan High School, where she was the Grossmont Hills League MVP two seasons in a row. She has already made an impression in the preseason as she is fiercely competitive and a very dynamic player.

Kate Martin is the other new face fans will see on the left pin this season. The freshman played for Marymount High School, where she earned All-CIF honors after leading her team to a third-place finish in the state of California. Martin came into the program with solid ball control, and Coach Jones is excited to see how she develops.

OPPOSITES
Julia Shepherd returns to the program after missing last season due to injury. As a senior, her leadership was appreciated by the staff and Coach Jones is excited to see what she can do.

Lois Hansen is coming back from injury this summer but has developed well on the right flank. Her ability to shut down the opposing team’s hitters is a huge advantage for the Gauchos. She also continues to improve her decision-making skills on offense.

Caroline Foraker is a freshman who played for St. Francis High School in Davis, California, where she earned All-Delta League honors. Coach Jones said she grasps the team’s concepts quickly and has the ability to help the team primarily on the right side, but also in the middle when needed.

Defence specialists
Angie Dentoni is the only senior who is a true defender. She has been on the team for four years and knows what is expected of the back row defenders. Coach Jones said Dentoni is great when it comes to communication and has been an effective server for the Gauchos throughout.

Cortni Youngblood is a redshirt freshman who is expected to make an impact in the back row. She spent the last year expanding her range in serve-receiving while doing a phenomenal job on defense.

Bianca Nistor is a freshman from Plymouth, Minnesota who joins the team where she led her team to two MSHL 4A state championships. Nistor brings a solid foundation in serve receiving and defense that she will continue to build upon as she adjusts to the increased pace of play at the college level.