Santa Barbara Girls Volleyball Takes Down San Marcos in Four Sets

By Natalie MacFarlane

Santa Barbara High School girls' volleyball earned a four-set victory over crosstown rival San Marcos on Tuesday night, defeating the Royals 3-1 in a Channel League matchup at San Marcos. 

The win moved the Dons to a 10-6 season record, while San Marcos fell to 2-15. Santa Barbara entered the match after a 3-2 victory over Ventura and a three-set sweep of Dos Pueblos, while the Royals were looking to end a difficult stretch after beginning the season 1-10. 

Santa Barbara relied on a balanced offensive attack throughout the match, led by senior Blake Saunders, senior Lola Heckman, and junior Kira Elliot. Saunders finished with 16 kills on 44 attacks, while Heckman recorded 10 kills. Elliot added nine kills as the Dons consistently found ways to attack the San Marcos defense.

Junior Juliana Horton also helped keep Santa Barbara’s offense moving throughout the match, recording 32 assists. The Dons put up additional pressure on the San Marcos defense from the service line, recording 14 aces during the match. 

For the Royals, Tuesday’s matchup was another opportunity for a young roster to gain experience against a competitive opponent. The Royals graduated 15 seniors from last year’s team, leaving several players in new varsity roles this season. 

Despite the difference in the teams’ records entering the match, the crosstown matchup gave both teams an opportunity to compete against a familiar opponent as Channel League play continues. 

For Santa Barbara, the victory continued a stretch of strong play, leading into the heart of Channel League competition. The two teams will meet again later this season when San Marcos plays away at Santa Barbara on October 2. The Dons will look to repeat Tuesday’s performance on their home court, while the Royals will be looking for a win of their own.