It’s a banner weekend for UCSB athletics – a pair of basketball games, a marquee women’s volleyball matchup, the nation’s best-attended soccer match, a men’s water polo game, and an appearance by four-time Olympic gold medalist Jason Lezak.

The Gaucho men’s basketball team officially opens its season at 7 p.m. tonight (Friday, Nov. 8) against Hawaii Pacific. UCSB, the second choice in the Big West preseason poll, is led by junior forward Al Williams and senior guard Brian Boswell.

The women’s volleyball match at 6:30 p.m. Saturday between UCSB (8-1 in the Big West) and Hawai‘i (7-3) is loaded with implications. Not since 1994 has Hawai‘i failed to win a conference championship (Big West or WAC), and the Gaucho women are seeking to sweep the Rainbow Wahine after last month’s five-set victory in Honolulu.

UCSB has already clinched the men’s soccer title of the Big West North Division, but the Gauchos will not want to let up in the regular-season finale against Cal Poly at 8 p.m. Saturday. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Prime, and a big crowd is expected at Harder Stadium. The past two years, the matchup recorded the nation’s highest college soccer attendance (13,822 in 2011 and 13,467 in 2012).

At halftime of the soccer match, Lezak will be honored with UCSB’s Distinguished Alumni Award. The freestyle swimmer took his place in Olympic history with an electrifying come-from-behind finish that gave the U.S. 4×100 team a victory over France in the 2008 Beijing Games.

The Gaucho men’s water polo team will host Pacific on Sunday at the Campus Pool, and the women’s basketball team will take the floor against Occidental.

After tonight’s football games, high school sports will enter the CIF Southern Section playoffs. Pairings will be announced early next week.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Saturday, 11/ 9: Running – Santa Barbara International Marathon, Dos Pueblos High to SBCC, 7:15 am. Half Marathon, Page Youth Center to SBCC, 7:45 am.

COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, 11/8: Women’s soccer – GSAC semifinal: Vanguard at Westmont, 2 pm. Women’s volleyball – Moorpark at SBCC, 6 pm. Men’s basketball – Hawaii Pacific at UCSB, 7 pm; Southern Oregon at Westmont, 7:30 pm.

Saturday, 11/9: Football – Glendale at SBCC, 6 pm. Women’s volleyball – Hawaii at UCSB, 6:30 pm. Men’s soccer – GSAC semifinal: Westmont at Biola, 2 pm; Cal Poly at UCSB, 8 pm.

Sunday, 11/10: Men’s water polo – Pacific at UCSB, 12 pm. Women’s basketball – Occidental at UCSB, 2 pm.

Wednesday, 11/13: Men’s soccer – Big West Tournament semifinals. Women’s basketball – Azusa Pacific at Westmont, 7:30 pm.

Friday, 11/15: Women’s soccer – GSAC Tournament finals; Hancock at SBCC, 2 pm. Women’s basketball – San Diego City at SBCC, 7 pm.

Saturday, 11/16: Football – SBCC at West L.A., 1 pm. Women’s basketball – Arizona at UCSB, 2 pm; Fullerton at SBCC, 5 pm. Women’s volleyball – UCSB at Cal State Northridge, 7 pm. Men’s basketball – Utah State at UCSB, 7 pm.

HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, 11/8: Football – Santa Barbara at Ventura, 7 pm; Dos Pueblos at Buena, 7 pm; Mission Prep at Bishop Diego, La Playa Stadium, 7:30 pm; Oak Park at Carpinteria, 7:30 pm.

Saturday, 11/9: Football – CIF playoffs: Pacific Lutheran at Laguna Blanca, 1 pm; Upland Christian at Cate, 1:30 pm.

Friday, 11/16: Football – CIF playoffs.

Saturday, 11/9: Football – CIF playoffs.

RUNNING, WALKING, CYCLING

Information for most events: sbrunning.org.

NOVEMBER: 23 – UCSB Recreational Sports 10K/5K Turkey Trot. 24 – Santa Barbara Red Rock 50 Mile and Marathon Trail Run, Rancho Oso Guest Ranch. 28 – Run Santa Barbara Thanksgiving 4-Miler.

DECEMBER: 14 – Elings Park Terrain Festival.

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