It's finally here. The UC San Diego women's volleyball team is in Arizona and fired up to kick off its first "real" season as an NCAA Division I program and member of the Big West Conference.
The 2020 season, which would have been the Tritons' first at their new level, was unfortunately canceled by the Big West due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
UC San Diego begins its 2021 campaign in Tucson, Ariz., with three matches at the University of Arizona's Cactus Classic. The Tritons take on New Mexico State, Marist, and Arizona over Friday and Saturday. Of the three opponents, UC San Diego has only matched up against NMSU in the past. The Tritons are 0-2 against the Aggies.
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| Â Â THE MORE YOU KNOW! |
| Team |
Nickname |
Location |
Enrollment |
Conference |
Roster |
Schedule/Results |
2020 Statistics |
2020 Records |
| Arizona |
Wildcats |
Tucson, Ariz. |
46,932 |
Pac-12 |
Roster |
Schedule/Results |
Statistics |
10-11, 10-11 |
| Marist |
Red Foxes |
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. |
6,657 |
Metro Atlantic |
Roster |
Schedule/Results |
Statistics |
1-3, 1-3 |
| New Mexico State |
Aggies |
Las Cruces, N.M. |
14,227 |
Western Athletic |
Roster |
Schedule/Results |
Statistics |
16-2, 13-1 |
| UC San Diego |
Tritons |
La Jolla, Calif. |
40,483 |
Big West |
Roster |
Schedule/Results |
N/A |
N/A |
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UC SAN DIEGO AND COVID-19
UC San Diego's nationally renowned Return to Learn program was created to return to in-person teaching, learning, conducting pioneering research and serving our communities in the safest way possible. The program has three adaptive pillars that are central to our strategy to resume on-campus activity: risk mitigation, viral detection, and intervention. For the latest information on UC San Diego and COVID-19, please visit the University'sÂ
Return to Learn site.
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THE TRITONS AREÂ ON THE WORLDWIDE LEADER!
Most UC San Diego home men's and women's basketball games, men's and women's soccer matches, men's and women's volleyball matches, baseball, and softball games are broadcast live on ESPN+. For more information on where to watch UC San Diego volleyball, visit UCSDTritons.com/live.
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GAME DAY HAS A NEW LOOK
Triton fans now have a whole new way to access game day information, as game programs have gone digital! Fans can GO HERE from their smart phone or scan the QR code at the entrance to RIMAC Arena for everything they need to know about each home match including updated rosters, schedules, and stats for each team, as well as links to watch on ESPN+.
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ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team (since the 2000-01 academic year), the entire UC San Diego athletics program has begun a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of the Big West Conference for the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, all sports will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
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THE 2021 TRITONS
2019 Starters Returning (2)
9 Trinity Castaneda (Sr., OH)
10 Isabela Dobra (Sr., S)
2019 Starters Lost (4)
6 Jessica Rieble (MB)
7 Claudia Mathews (MB)
12 Gina Cortesi (OH)
21 Sydney Tekstra (OH)
2019 Primary Liberos Returning (1)
1Â Susanna Limb (Sr.)
2019 Primary Liberos Lost (1)
15 Alyson Penrose
Other 2019 Letterwinners Returning (2)
8 Emily Hubbard (Sr., OH)
11 Dani Mason (So., MB/OPP)
Other 2019 Letterwinners Lost (5)
2 Brie Severino (S)
3 Rebecca Whitney (OH)
5 Sarah Rieble (OH/OPP)
19 Josie Collier (OPP)
22 Marin Willick (OH)
2019 Redshirts Returning (1)
Cindy Tran (Grad, MB)
2020 First Year Players Returning (7)
4 Ava McInnes (So., MB)
6 Grace Cannon (So., MB)
7 Jovana Papaz (Sr., OH)
14 Morgan Gallagher (Sr., OH)
16 Izzi Strand (So., S)
23 Natalie Repetti (So., L)
24 Odeya Russo (So., OH)
Newcomers (6)
0 Izabella Santa Cruz (Fr., S)
2 Naya Dong (Jr., L)
3 Juliette Bokor (Fr., MB)
5 Sabire Karakaova (Fr., OH)
17 Emily McDaniel (Fr., MB)
33 Zaria Henderson (Fr., OH)
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IT'S BEEN A MINUTE
The last time the Tritons played an official match was way back on Dec. 5 of 2019! It was a 3-2 loss against Alaska Anchorage in the opening round of the NCAA Division II West Regional at Cal State San Bernardino.
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CAPTAIN CRUNCH
The Tritons are going with a tri-captain scenario again this season. Filling the roles are senior libero Susanna Limb, sophomore middle blocker/opposite Dani Mason, and graduate student middle blocker Cindy Tran. Limb and Tran both served as a tri-captain in 2020 as well.
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SPEAKING OF CINDY
You may have heard the name Cindy Tran before. The middle blocker from Orange County has been listed on UC San Diego's roster since 2018, the year she joined the Tritons as a junior transfer from Concordia Irvine. Her career in La Jolla started off strong as she earned All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) honorable mention after starting all 23 of the team's matches. She led UC San Diego in service aces, was second in blocks, and third in points, kills, and digs. Unfortunately, Tran was forced to sit out her entire senior campaign in 2019 after injuring her knee in a preseason exhibition at Cal State Fullerton. Following surgery, rehab, and graduation, Tran came back strong as a grad student in 2020. However, more heartbreak followed as the Big West Conference canceled all fall sports competition due to the pandemic. Now a second-year graduate student in public health, the determined Tran returns yet again to finish what she started. To read a recent feature story on Tran, click here.
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  2021 BIG WEST CONFERENCE STANDINGS
(Through August 26) |
| Rank |
Team |
BWC Record |
Overall Record |
| - |
Cal Poly |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| - |
Cal State Fullerton |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| - |
CSU Bakersfield |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| - |
CSUN |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| - |
Hawaii |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| - |
Long Beach State |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| - |
UC Davis |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| - |
UC Irvine |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| - |
UC Riverside |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| - |
UC San Diego |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| - |
UC Santa Barbara |
0-0 |
0-0 |
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| Â Â 2021 BIG WEST CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES POLL |
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
First-Place Votes |
| 1 |
Hawaii |
117 |
7 |
| 2 |
Cal Poly |
111 |
4 |
| 3 |
UC Santa Barbara |
90 |
0 |
| 4 |
Long Beach State |
88 |
0 |
| 5 |
UC Davis |
83 |
0 |
| 6 |
UC Irvine |
57 |
0 |
| 7 |
CSUN |
50 |
0 |
|
UC San Diego |
50 |
0 |
| 9 |
CSU Bakersfield |
35 |
0 |
| 10 |
Cal State Fullerton |
25 |
0 |
| 11 |
UC Riverside |
20 |
0 |
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  2021 AVCA NATIONAL POLL
(August 16) |
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
Previous Rank |
| 1 |
Texas |
1561 |
NR |
| 2 |
Wisconsin |
1522 |
NR |
| 3 |
Kentucky |
1435 |
NR |
| 4 |
Washington |
1355 |
NR |
| 5 |
Nebraska |
1346 |
NR |
| 6 |
Florida |
1275 |
NR |
| 7 |
Minnesota |
1130 |
NR |
| 8 |
Purdue |
1096 |
NR |
| 9 |
Pittsburgh |
1085 |
NR |
| 10 |
Baylor |
1000 |
NR |
| 11 |
Ohio State |
981 |
NR |
| 12 |
Penn State |
902 |
NR |
| 13 |
Louisville |
806 |
NR |
| 14 |
Oregon |
776 |
NR |
| 15 |
BYU |
734 |
NR |
| 16 |
Western Kentucky |
553 |
NR |
| 17 |
UCLA |
496 |
NR |
| 18 |
Washington State |
431 |
NR |
| 19 |
Utah |
398 |
NR |
| 20 |
San Diego |
319 |
NR |
| 21 |
Stanford |
264 |
NR |
| 22 |
Pepperdine |
234 |
NR |
| 23 |
Rice |
223 |
NR |
| 24 |
Georgia Tech |
193 |
NR |
| 25 |
Notre Dame |
157 |
NR |
Others receiving votes: Southern California, Creighton, Missouri, Hawaii, LSU, UNLV, Michigan, Marquette, Dayton, Kansas State, Tennessee, Kansas, Texas State, Illinois, Arizona, UC San Diego, Wright State, Cal Poly, Arkansas
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HEAD COACH RICCI LUYTIES
Entering his 12th season leading the Tritons in 2021, Ricci Luyties holds a 179-100 (.642) overall record at UC San Diego. Four times Luyties has paced UC San Diego to at least 20 victories, which includes an impressive 26-6 (.813) campaign in 2013. The Tritons have qualified for NCAA Division II postseason play six times under Luyties, reaching the regional semifinals in four of those years. In 2010 and again in 2013, UC San Diego climbed as high as No. 8 in the national rankings. Prior to coming to La Jolla, Luyties was head coach at Southern Mississippi for six seasons. As a setter at UCLA, Luyties helped lead the Bruins to four consecutive national championships. He was named the NCAA's Most Valuable Player twice and was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame. At the international level, Luyties, alongside Karch Kiraly and Steve Timmons, won a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He also played on the beach for 12 years, competing on the AVP Tour and FIVB World Tour with partners such as Kiraly and Adam Johnson. For Luyties' full bio, click here.
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GEAR UP
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, click here.
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FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego athletic events, and much more!
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BE SOCIAL!
UC San Diego Athletics on Facebook (UCSDtritons)
UC San Diego Athletics on Instagram (UCSDtritons)
UC San Diego Athletics on Twitter (@UCSDtritons)
UC San Diego Women's Volleyball on Instagram (ucsd_wvb)
UC San Diego Women's Volleyball on Twitter (@ucsdwvb)
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UP NEXT
Following the Cactus Classic, UC San Diego continues tournament play Sept. 3-4 at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. The Tritons are slated to take on Cal, Pacific, and Tarleton State.
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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
