Tritons Men’s Volleyball Sweeps UC Merced and Menlo, Faces Tougher Competition Ahead

The No. 10 UC San Diego men’s volleyball team (9-5, 0-0 Big West) continued its winning streak with decisive three-set victories over UC Merced and Menlo College, but faced a setback against Vanguard before rebounding with another win. The Tritons are preparing for a challenging conference schedule.

Dominating Performance Against UC Merced

On February 16, 2026, the UC San Diego Tritons dominated UC Merced (3-5, 0-1 MPSF) with set scores of 25-15, 25-21 and 25-15 at LionTree Arena [1]. The team capitalized on UCM’s struggles in serve receive, consistently launching effective offensive attacks.

Redshirt junior outside hitter Leo Pravednikov led the Tritons with 14 kills, contributing significantly to the team’s success [1]. Redshirt senior setter John Luers orchestrated the offense with precision, setting up numerous scoring opportunities. The first set was particularly strong for UCSD, with 17 kills and no attack errors, while UCM failed to record a single block [1].

Despite a brief momentum shift in the second set, the Tritons regained control with key kills from Pravednikov and redshirt senior middle blocker Jim Garrison, closing out the set 25-21. The third set saw continued dominance from Pravednikov and strong contributions from redshirt freshman middle blocker Ben Warren, leading to a 25-15 victory [1].

Continued Success Against Menlo College

Following the win against UC Merced, UCSD traveled to Atherton and secured another three-set sweep against Menlo College [1].

Setback and Recovery Against Vanguard

The Tritons experienced a loss against Vanguard, falling 2-3 at home, but quickly rebounded with a 3-1 victory in a rematch against the same opponent [1].

Looking Ahead

UC San Diego will return to LionTree Arena to face Cal State Northridge in their next match, anticipating a “dogfight” as they enter conference play [1]. Head coach Brad Rostratter emphasized the team’s focus on continuous improvement as they prepare for the challenges ahead [1].

Leo Pravednikov, a redshirt junior outside hitter for UC San Diego, is 6-5 and weighs 190 pounds [2].