Two sets down, UC San Diego built its way back into Friday night's match against Utah Tech. The Tritons won the third and fourth, erased an early deficit in the fifth and reached 13-all. The Trailblazers took the next two points and the match, 25-19, 25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 15-13, at the Outrigger Invitational in Honolulu.
The loss dropped UCSD to 2-3 and moved Utah Tech to 3-2. It was the Tritons' second defeat in as many tournament matches, but the shape differed from Thursday's four-set loss to Loyola Marymount. This time, UCSD converted late-set chances often enough to force the shortest race in volleyball, then lost it at the final tie after doing nearly enough to erase two complete sets.
Utah Tech controlled the first set after the teams reached 16-15, closing on a 9-2 run. The Trailblazers also took the second, leaving UCSD one set from a sweep. The Tritons changed the match in the third with a 25-19 response, then stayed in front long enough to win the fourth 25-22 and level the contest.
The fifth opened badly for UCSD. Utah Tech jumped ahead 5-1 before the Tritons worked back, eventually tying the score at 13. With the set played to 15, there was no room for a long correction. The Trailblazers won consecutive rallies to end the reverse-sweep attempt before UCSD could earn a match point.
Ireland McNees powered the recovery with career highs of 21 kills and 22 points. She also had nine digs. Molly McCluskey added 18 kills on a .457 hitting percentage, 10 digs and four block assists for her third double-double. The two hitters gave UCSD both volume and efficiency as the match lengthened.
Gia Rivera reached double figures for the first time in her college career with 13 kills. Lucia Barroso produced seven block assists, six kills and two service aces. That spread kept Utah Tech from organizing its defense around only McNees and McCluskey during the middle sets.
The Tritons used two setters. Marleena Catalan matched a career high with 23 assists in her first appearance of the season, while Brynne McGhie had 21 assists and 12 digs. Paulina Baillie led UCSD with 15 digs, and Dillyn Griffin added 11. The distribution reflected a match in which the Tritons had to solve problems after falling behind rather than simply preserve an opening plan.
No single statistic can substitute for the last two rallies, but the individual totals show why UCSD got there. Three hitters reached at least 13 kills, two players posted double-doubles and Barroso affected the match at the net and service line. The comeback was supported across rotations, not by one isolated scoring run.
UC San Diego closes the Outrigger Invitational against host Hawai'i on Sunday night. Friday offered the Tritons evidence that they can reset after two poor sets. It also left a sharper requirement: in a fifth set, the work of four earlier frames only creates the opportunity. From 13-all, two controlled contacts decide whether the comeback becomes a result.