UC Santa Cruz Athletics

After a successful season in 2006 and having the best record in over 10 years, the UCSC Women’s Volleyball team is looking for their first ever bid to the NCAA playoffs in 2007.

Leading the Slugs this year will be Senior Outside Hitters Gillian McGraw and Team Captain Nicole Payne.

With 16 returners and losing only 1 senior last year, the Slugs are looking stronger than ever. Joining the team this year is Freshman Middle Blocker Ariel Ajagu, Freshman Setters Stephanie Hopcraft and Joanna Kubalski, Freshman Outside Hitter Gia Kobara, Freshman Opposite Sarah Overton and Freshman Libero Allison Jamtaas.

Coach Teitelbaum is in her 4^th season coaching the Slugs and is looking forward to another exciting season. Joining the coaching staff for the UCSC Women’s Volleyball team is former alumni, Lily Hallock, who is the Assistant Wellness Center Director at UCSC.

The Slugs are off to a great start finishing 3-1 at their season opener at Willamette University in Salem , Oregon .

They defeated Eastern Oregon University in 3 straight games (30-27, 30-23, 30-18) led by Senior Outside Hitter Gillian McGraw who tallied 15 kills, 11 digs and 5 blocks. Senior Outside Hitter Nicole Payne also racked up double digit stats with 10 kills, 14 digs, 2 aces and 1 block. Junior Libero Melinda Tom also contributed with 30 digs for the match.

The Slugs then went on to beat Willamette University in 4 exciting games (30-25, 31-29, 24-30, 30-28). Leading for UC Santa Cruz was Gillian McGraw who led with 17 kills and 10 digs. An outstanding performance from Junior Middle Blocker Daniella Reagan who hit .500 with 12 kills and 8 blocks for the match. Once again Melinda Tom joins the 30 dig club tallying 32 for the match.

After finishing day one with a perfect 2-0 record, George Fox University upset UCSC in 4 (23-30, 18-30, 30-27, 25-30). Leading the Slugs was Senior Gillian McGraw with 13 kills, 16 digs and 3 blocks. Junior Outside Hitter Megan Wisnewski had an amazing match hitting .471 with 10 kills, 4 blocks and 4 digs on the match.

The Slugs then defeated Linfield University who is ranked #24 in NCAA Division III in 4 games (30-23, 21-30, 30-27, 30-24). Leading for the Slugs was Junior Outside Hitter Megan Wisnewski who hit .400 with 14 kills and 4 blocks. Another standup performance from Daniella Reagan who racked up 10 kills and 6 blocks for the match. Libero Melinda Tom again joined the 30 dig club with 33 digs for the match.

The Slugs head south to compete in the Pacific Coast Classic next weekend at the Claremont Colleges. The Women’s Volleyball Team will face North Central, Whittier , Principia and Redlands (ranked #17 in NCAA Division III).

The UCSC Women’s Volleyball Team traveled to the Claremont Colleges this weekend to compete in the Pacific Coast Classic Tournament. First up was North Central, a very solid team from Illinois , who defeated the Slugs in 3 (27-30, 24-30, 23-30). Leading the team was Junior Outside Hitter Megan Wisniewski who racked up 10 kills and 4 blocks.

Next up the Slugs battled DIII Whittier College coming out on top in 4 games (30-26, 27-30, 32-30, 30-19). Outstanding performances from Freshman Middle Blocker Ariel Ajagu who hit .417 with 12 kills, 8 blocks and 2 aces and Senior Gillian McGraw who racked up 13 kills, 5 blocks and 1 ace in only 2 games of the match.

On Saturday, the Slugs faced the University of Redlands (ranked #17 in Div III) and played a near perfect match upsetting the Redlands Bulldogs in 4 games (30-22, 25-30, 30-24, 30-25). Contributing to the big win offensively was Junior Middle Blocker Daniella Reagan who led with 14 kills and 7 blocks and Senior Outside Hitter Gillian McGraw who also had 14 kills. Quarterbacking the defense for the Slugs was Junior Libero Melinda Tom who had 33 digs, followed by Junior Defensive Specialist Sophie Manoukian with 23 digs and Sophomore Setter Amy Knight with 22 digs.

Immediately following the victory over Redlands , the Slugs had to play back to back matches and face Principia College . Putting up a strong fight but coming up just short of a win, the Slugs lost the battle in 5 exciting games which lasted over 2 and a half hours (30-26, 22-30, 30-27, 33-35, 11-15). This time it was Senior Outside Hitter Nicole Payne who had a season-high 21 kills, 19 digs and 3 aces for the match. Once again strong performances from Middle Blockers Daniella Reagan and Ariel Ajagu who each had 14 kills. Despite a good fight, it was not enough to stop 6’2 Outside Hitter Christina Speer from Principia who had an astounding 32 kills (hitting .424) and 23 digs on the match.

The Slugs finish the weekend 5 and 3 and will take on NCAA Division II CSU Monterey Bay on Wednesday, September 12^th and then head down south for the Cal Lutheran/Redlands Tournament.

It was a tough week for the UCSC Women’s Volleyball team against some tough competition. First the Slugs had to battle against NCAA Division II CSU Monterey Bay on Wednesday night. After a close first game, the Slugs couldn’t pull off a win and lost in 3 straight (27-30, 24-30, 20-30). A valiant effort by Senior Outside Hitter Nicole Payne who had 9 kills and 12 digs for the match. Daniella Reagan and Ariel Ajagu each added 8 kills and 1 block and Junior Libero Melinda Tom tallied 19 digs.

The team then traveled down south once again to compete in the Cal Lutheran/Redlands Tournament. First up was NAIA The Master’s College. Although the Slugs were down a starter, Gillian McGraw, who was out for the week with an injury, they came out on top against The Master’s in 4 games (24-30, 31-29, 30-26, 30-17). Solid performances from Freshman Middle Blocker Ariel Ajagu who led with 14 kills, Sophomore Middle Blocker Jen Meyers who had 13 kills and hit .522 for the match, Junior Middle Blocker Daniella Reagan who had 12 kills and Senior Outside Hitter Nicole Payne who had 12 kills, 4 aces, and 12 digs. Sophomore Setter Amy Knight also racked up 57 assists for the match.

Up next was host school Cal Lutheran who was previously ranked #21 in NCAA Division III. The Slugs lost in 3 straight (17-30, 23-30, 14-30).

On Saturday, September 15^th, UC Santa Cruz faced rival DIII Independent powerhouse Cal State East Bay, currently ranked #13 in the NCAA. Although the Slugs played tough the entire match almost pulling out a win in game 2, they lost in 3 straight (26-30, 31-33, 22-30). Senior Outside Hitter Nicole Payne had an epic match leading with 10 kills and 19 digs. Sophomore Opposite Jackie McCrory also had a good performance contributing 6 kills on the match.

The last match of the tournament was against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. After winning the first two games of the match handily, CMS rallied back to defeat the Slugs in 5 games (30-25, 30-15, 28-30, 23-30, 4-15). Freshman Middle Blocker Ariel Ajagu had a great match leading the team with 15 kills and 3 blocks. Senior Outside Hitter Nicole Payne also had a good showing with 14 kills 7 digs, 3 blocks and 1 ace for the match.

The Slugs go into the next week with a record of 6-7 for the season. They will have to face Cal State East Bay once again on Tuesday, September 18^th and head down south for the third straight weekend in a row to compete in the La Verne Tournament.

September 24, 2007
Slug Volleyball Beats DIII Independent Rival Chapman University

It was another tough week for the Slugs having to face CSU East Bay (ranked #12) again on Tuesday, September 18^th. The Slugs fought hard in 3 close games (25-30, 21-30, 25-30) but couldn’t overtake the Pioneers. Leading for UCSC was Senior Outside Hitter Gillian McGraw who had 9 kills, 4 digs and 1 block and Senior Outside Hitter and team captain Nicole Payne who also had 9 kills, 11 digs and 4 blocks.

UCSC traveled down south for the 3^rd weekend in a row to compete in the La Verne Tournament. Up first for the Slugs was the University of Redlands . It was a tough match and Redlands barely came out with the win after 5 close games (30-22, 20-30, 30-32, 30-22, 11-15). Leading for the Slugs was Senior Outside Hitter Gillian McGraw who racked up an impressive 18 kills, 7 digs and 3 blocks. Junior Libero Melinda Tom joined the 30 dig club once again racking up 34 digs for the match.

Next up was the University of La Verne currently ranked #9 in the country. The Slugs fought back after losing the first game 13-30 and then earned some respect losing 2 close games 25-30, 23-30. Leading for the Slugs was Senior Outside Hitter Nicole Payne who led with 6 kills, 10 digs and 2 blocks.

On Saturday, UCSC competed against DIII Elmhurst College from Chicago , IL and lost in 4 games (28-30, 30-18, 28-30, 25-30). Leading for the Slugs was Senior Outside Hitter Gillian McGraw who had 13 kills 4 digs and 4 blocks, Senior Outside Hitter Nicole Payne who had 10 kills, 13 digs, 2 aces and 1 block.

The last and most important match of the tournament was against DIII Independent rival Chapman University . The Slugs fought hard refusing to lose and after a long, competitive match, UCSC came out with the win in 5 games (30-20, 28-30, 27-30, 30-28, 15-12). The Slugs played their best match of the season posting some impressive numbers. Freshman Middle Blocker Ariel Ajagu led the team with 14 kills and 4 blocks. Outstanding performances from Gilly McGraw who had 12 kills, 7 digs, 3 blocks and 1 ace, Nicole Payne who had 11 kills, 18 digs, 8 aces and 5 blocks, Daniella Reagan who had 11 kills and 6 blocks, Megan Wisniewski who had 8 kills 4 blocks and 2 digs, Melinda Tom with 32 digs and 3 aces, and Amy Knight with 54 assists, 9 digs and 1 block.

After being on the road for 4 straight weeks, the Slugs host their first home game of the season on Wednesday, September 26^th against Bethany College from Scotts Valley at 7pm in the East Field House.

On Friday, the Slugs traveled to San Rafael to play against NAIA Dominican University. It was a back and forth match with the Slugs losing a close first game 27-30, dominating in the second game 30-19, losing another close game 28-30 and playing a near-perfect game 4 (30-17) and then losing a heartbreaking fifth game 8-15. Senior Outside Hitter, Gilly McGraw, led with a season-high 17 kills for the match, the only player to post a double-double with kills and 10 digs.

On Saturday, UCSC was back at home to compete against Mills College. With a packed house full of fans including some boisterous student-athletes, the Slugs defeated Mills in 3 (30-18, 30-13, 30-26). Leading for the Slugs was Sophomore Opposite, Roxy White who had 6 kills and 2 blocks hitting .545 for the match.

The UCSC Women’s Volleyball team is now 9-12 for the season (2-0 at home) and faces NCAA Division II CSU Monterey Bay at home on Tuesday, October 2^nd and Holy Names University at home on Friday, October 5^th and travels to Mills College on Saturday, October 6^th.

On Friday, the Slugs played against Holy Names University overtaking them in 4 games (27-30, 30-25, 30-20, 30-28). Again UCSC had 4 hitters with double digit kills, this time leading the Slugs was Senior Outside Hitter Nicole Payne with 15 kills and 20 digs, closely followed by Junior Middle Blocker Daniella Reagan who tallied 14 kills and 2 blocks. Junior Outside Hitter Megan Wisnewski had 11 kills and 3 blocks and Senior Outside Hitter Gillian McGraw had 11 kills and a season-high 30 digs and 3 blocks.

On Saturday, UCSC traveled to Mills College in Oakland . The Slugs beat Mills at home just one week earlier in 3, but this time the Cyclones were up to the challenge and took the match to 5 games. Santa Cruz barely came out on top with the first 3 games going into extra points (31-29, 33-35, 34-32, 21-30, 15-10). Leading the Slugs was Team Captain and Senior Outside Hitter Nicole Payne who had 15 kills, 18 digs and 2 blocks closely followed by rookie Sophomore Middle Blocker Lauren Foliart who played an amazing match totaling 14 kills and 5 blocks. Sophomore Middle Blocker Jen Meyers also posted double digit kills with 10 kills and 4 blocks for the match. Sophomore Setter Amy Knight had her best defensive game of the season leading the defense with 26 kills and also contributing 45 assists for the match.

The Slugs are now 11-13 on the Season and will travel to Hayward to play in the CSU East Bay Wild West Shoot Out Tournament on Friday and Saturday, October 12-13^th to face Concordia, Edgewood , Saint Benedict and Cal Lutheran.