Box Score SANTA BARBARA, Ca.  --  The Miners had a strong showing in their 2025 season opener despite a 3-0 loss to the Gauchos. They pushed UCSB to their limits in every set, including a first set that went to extra points and included seven set points.

Set 1:
The Gauchos and Miners traded points at the start of the set before S&T went on a three-point run to open up a 9-7 lead. UCSB immediately responded though, scroing two in a row to tie the set a 9-9. Kills by Tyler Johnwick (Lombard, IL/Glenbard East) and Grant Edmonds (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison) reopened a two-point lead for the Miners. Later, Caleb Rohlwing (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) would contribute with a kill and an ace to give S&T their largest lead of the set at 16-13.

The Gauchos would cut it to a one point game at 22-21, prompting a timeout from Coach Ryan Thompson. The score would be tied seven times in the ensuing points, with the Miners getting four set points before eventually falling 31-29.

Set 2:
After another close start to the second set, the Miners went on a three-point run to take a 9-7 lead. UCSB would take the next four points though to go ahead 11-9. The Miners would cut the deficit to one twice in the ensuing points, but never were able to get any closer than that as the Gauchos stretched their lead to four for a 25-21 victory in the second set.

Set 3: 
The Miners opened up an early lead in set three, with Aaron Sallade (Palatine, Ill./William Fremd) and Johnwick contributing kills as they went ahead 5-1. UCSB would go on a 4-0 run to tie the game at 7-7 though, leading to 11 ties in the next 21 points. The Gauchos pulled ahead by two at 19-17, but S&T would score four in a row a few points later to take a 23-21 lead. Despite the advantage, the Miners were unable to capitalize after UCSB recorded three kills in a row to take the set 26-24.

Sallade led the team in kills with 11 on 23 attempts and was also tied with Johnwick for the most blocks on the team with two.

What's Next
The Miners will play CSUN tomorrow evening in game two of the Asics Invitational.

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