No. 7 UC Santa Cruz men's volleyball team upsets No. 3 Cathage in a five-set thriller

Riley Norman's 22 kills, including the match winner, lead the Banana Slugs to victory over the Firebirds

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The No. 7 nationally ranked NCAA Division III UC Santa Cruz men's volleyball team upset No. 3 Cathage in a five-set thriller, 19-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 15-15, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Friday. Senior outside hitter Riley Norman led the Banana Slugs with 22 kills, including the match winner, plus eight assists and seven digs.

Why it matters

This upset victory over a highly ranked opponent showcases the strength and competitiveness of the UC Santa Cruz men's volleyball program, which continues to make a name for itself at the Division III level.

The details

In addition to Norman's standout performance, junior setter AJ Contreras had eight kills, 13 digs, and two assists for UCSC, while freshman opposite Nick Nayak contributed eight kills and two digs. On the Cathage side, junior opposite Ben Heise led the Firebirds with 20 kills and seven digs, and senior outside hitter Ryan Bartz had 16 kills and nine digs.

  • The match took place on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Riley Norman

A senior outside hitter for the UC Santa Cruz men's volleyball team who had 22 kills, including the match winner, plus eight assists and seven digs in the upset victory over Cathage.

AJ Contreras

A junior setter for the UC Santa Cruz men's volleyball team who had eight kills, 13 digs, and two assists in the win.

Nick Nayak

A freshman opposite for the UC Santa Cruz men's volleyball team who had eight kills and two digs in the upset victory.

Ben Heise

A junior opposite for the Cathage men's volleyball team who led the Firebirds with 20 kills and seven digs in the loss.

Ryan Bartz

A senior outside hitter for the Cathage men's volleyball team who had 16 kills and nine digs in the defeat.

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What’s next

UCSC will play Wisconsin-Stevens Point (4-5) in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, on Saturday at 11 a.m.

The takeaway

This thrilling five-set victory over a highly ranked opponent demonstrates the continued growth and competitiveness of the UC Santa Cruz men's volleyball program, which is making a name for itself at the Division III level.