April 10, 2002

Santa Barbara, Calif. - On Saturday, April 13, the UCSB women's volleyball team will host 11 other squads at the annual Santa Barbara Spring Tournament in the Thunderdome.

Each team will play four matches, consisting of two games to 30 points in rally scoring format. There will be no official scoring at this informal competition, and no tournament championship will be awarded.

The libero rule, which has been approved by the NCAA for the 2002 season, will be in place. A libero is a designated back-row player, primarily with a defensive and passing role, who can make unlimited substitutions into a game but is not permitted to attack, block or serve the ball. Teams are allowed a maximum of 12 total substitutions per game at other positions.

Four matches will run concurrently on the Thunderdome floor. The Gauchos will play Cal State Fullerton at 9:00 a.m., Texas A&M at 10:15, Georgia Tech at 12:45 p.m. and wrap up with a 3:15 showdown against Pepperdine. Among the other schools participating are Arizona - which advanced to the 2001 Final Four - Colorado, Cal Poly and Loyola Marymount.

UCSB is slated to open the 2002 regular season at the San Diego State Tournament, Aug. 30-31.