University of California, Merced – Bobcats Continue to Win at Home, Knock Out La Sierra in Four Sets

MERCED, Calif. – Olanasaze Ojo smacked a career-high 18 kills and Serena Choi tallied a double-double to power the University of California, Merced women’s volleyball team to a four-set win over La Sierra University on Saturday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium, 3-1 (25-18, 25-22, 22-25, 25-20).

The Bobcats (5-6, 3-2) remain perfect at home this year and have won a program-record five straight home matches dating back to last season. 

Ojo, who beat her previous career-high by three kills, was electric all night and got off to a hot start with eleven kills across the first two sets. Her 18 total kills are also the most by any Bobcat this year. Ojo completed her stat line with a pair of blocks.

Teola Nowak and Hannah Dillingham joined Ojo in double figures with 13 and ten kills, respectively. Nowak’s 13 kills marked a season-high and just one kill short of tying her career-high. Nowak tied her career-high with five digs. Dillingham recorded ten kills while hitting at least .275 for the second consecutive match. Dillingham also tied her career-high with two blocks, one solo.

Choi contributed a season-high 31 assists and tied her season-best with eleven digs for her third double-double during Cal Pac play. Her three double-double’s this season are already more than double her double-double output coming into the year. Choi also had seven kills and a service ace.

Bianca Malaluan was good for 21 assists, seven digs and a career-high three service aces, while Semiramis Tanasecu totaled seven kills and led the Bobcats with three blocks.

Valentina Evans finished with five kills and two blocks, one solo.

Jalen Carey and Destiny Lei Ramilo shared team-high with 12 digs. Lei Ramilo added two service aces.

Other notables include a career-high nine digs from Alexa Ultreras, six digs from Hannah Dillingham and two service aces from Annamarie Caldero.

UC Merced’s most dominant set was the opening frame and Nowak and Ojo combined for five early kills to put their squad ahead 10-4. Up 13-8 soon after, a Choi kill sparked a 5-0 run to put the Bobcats ahead by ten points at 18-8. The Bobcats biggest lead of the game was 21-10 after a La Sierra attack error.

Head coach Ai Prachumsri‘s team also got off to a quick start in the second set winning seven of the first eight rallies with Choi behind the service line. Later on trailing 17-15, the Bobcats were successful in putting together another strong stretch, this time an…