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Opposite Geste Bianchi went from resting on the bench to a career performance in a comeback win.
Bianchi led all players with a career-high 30 kills on a .479 attack percentage as No. 15 UC Santa Barbara rallied from a two-game deficit to beat No. 20 George Mason 15-25, 18-25, 26-24, 25-21, 15-20 on Friday in Santa Barbara, California.
Bianchi did not play in the 10-point opening game loss and came off the bench for the start of the second game. The opposite led the Gauchos with at least seven kills in each of the final three games of the comeback.
The junior in the decisive game also led all players with eight kills, including three consecutive kills as part of a 5-2 run to close out the match.
UC Santa Barbara had a match-best .706 attack percentage and committed one error in the final game. The Gauchos also ended the match out-hitting George Mason .320 to .316, despite being held to a negative attack percentage in the first game.
George Mason outside attacker Omar Hoyos in the loss had both a team-high 15 kills on a .357 attack percentage and three aces.
The Patriots with a two-game lead held a four-point lead midway through the third game. However, the Gauchos went on a 7-2 run that featured two kills from Bianchi to take the lead and eventually won the game in overtime.
This was the second consecutive match to open the season that Bianchi had more than 20 kills. Bianchi finished with 21 kills on a .531 attack percentage in a four-game victory against NJIT on Thursday.