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Dayne Chalmers was not perfect offensively – but the outside attacker was pretty close.
Chalmers finished a team-high 17 kills and zero errors on a .680 attack percentage as No. 15 UC Santa Barbara upset No. 5/5 Pepperdine 21-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-11, 15-12 on Friday in Santa Barbara, California.
The second-year starting pin hitter had game-high five kills in the decisive game to help the Gauchos snap a seven-match losing streak dating back to the season’s opening weekend. In addition, Chambers delivered this season-best offensive performance after being sidelined for a three-game loss to Pepperdine (8-2, 0-0 MPSF) on Wednesday that opened the home-and-home series.
Setter Jake Walmer guided UC Santa Barbara to out-hit Pepperdine .402 to .298. The Gauchos (2-7, 0-0 Big West) hit more than .600 in each of the final two games, including a match-best .692 attack percentage and zero errors in the fifth game.
Along with Chalmers, opposite Owen Birg and outside attacker Ryan Wilcox each had 13 kills in the non-conference victory. Middle attacker Donovan Todorov also contributed seven kills on a .600 attack percentage.
Pepperdine outside attacker Jaylen Jasper led all players with a season-high 26 kills and hit .432. Jasper entered the weekend second in the nation with a 5.07 kills per game average and now has more than 20 kills in four matches this season.
Outside attacker Jacob Steele in the loss added 11 kills, while outside attacker Joe Deluzio had 10 kills.
Pepperdine opened the match limiting the Gauchos to a .111 attack percentage en route to a game-one win.
The Waves retook a one-game lead after not committing an attack error and hitting .600 in third game. However, UC Santa Barbara held Pepperdine to a negative attack percentage in the fourth game and then a .200 attack percentage in the final game.