The UC San Diego men’s volleyball team opened its 2022 season at RIMAC Arena with two weekend wins over Harvard and Stanford.
The Tritons triumphed easily against Stanford Saturday, winning 25-20, 25-22 and 25-23.
The team came back against Harvard Friday after dropping the first set, 16-25, 25-16, 25-20, and 25-23.
Outside hitter Kyle McCauley, outside hitter Ryan Ka and opposite Charlie Siragusa put up big numbers in both matches.
Against Stanford, McCauley logged 14 kills, while Ka had nine. Setter Blake Crisp had 34 assists.
UCSD had three players rack up double-digit kill totals against Harvard – McCauley, with 17, and Ka and middle blocker Logan Clark with 11 each. Siragusa and middle Shane Benetz each contributed five kills. Crisp assisted on 44 of the Tritons’ 49 kills.
Stanford’s record fell to 3-2, while Harvard remains winless on the season.
The Tritons play Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. Friday at RIMAC. Fans have not been able to attend games at UCSD this month due to the recent COVID-19 surge. The ban continues through Feb. 1.
UCSD, ranked 10th in a preseason national poll, is projected to finish third in the Big West, behind national champion Hawaii and Long Beach State.
The team was scheduled to open the season with four matches at UC Santa Barbara’s Asics Invitational, from Jan. 6-8, but COVID health and safety protocols forced cancellations.
