Tritons Fall in Five-Set Thriller as Yale Rallies for Victory

UC San Diego pushed the Bulldogs to the brink, but Yale’s late surge sealed a dramatic 3-2 win in non-conference volleyball action.

LA JOLLA, Calif. | In a clash that tested endurance, strategy, and grit, the UC San Diego Tritons fell short in a five-set battle against Yale University on Friday night at RIMAC Arena. The Bulldogs emerged with a 3-2 victory (25-16, 20-25, 25-22, 25-27, 15-12), outlasting UCSD in front of a charged crowd.

UC San Diego (now 5-6) started strong with a dominant first set, forcing Yale onto the defensive with crisp passing and aggressive blocking. The Tritons’ front row held the Bulldogs to a .120 hitting percentage in the opener, creating early momentum.

But Yale (7-4) answered back in the second frame, adjusting with quicker sets to the outside and more pressure from the service line. The Bulldogs capitalized on Triton errors, pulling away late to even the match at one set apiece.

The third set proved pivotal as both teams exchanged long rallies. UCSD edged ahead at 20-19 before Yale’s blocking duo closed the gap, swinging momentum to the visitors. Yale held off a late Triton push to capture the set, 25-22.

Refusing to fold, UC San Diego responded with a dramatic fourth-set win. Behind strong serving and back-row defense, the Tritons forced extra points before taking the set 27-25, igniting the crowd and setting up a decisive fifth.

The final frame highlighted Yale’s composure under pressure. After trading points early, the Bulldogs strung together a 4-1 run to claim a 12-9 lead. UCSD fought back, narrowing the deficit to 13-12, but Yale sealed the match with two straight kills.