University of California, Merced – Bobcats Drop Contest Against League-Leading Westcliff

MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women’s volleyball team fell to Westcliff University 3-1 (25-18, 27-29, 25-17, 25-13) in the first match of a three-match homestand on Thursday afternoon inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

Bianca Malaluan led the Bobcats (9-11, 6-7) efforts with 19 assists and ten digs for her second straight double-double and her fourth of the season. Jaide Davis added eleven assists and eight digs.

Semiramis Tanasecu finished with eight kills on a .385 hitting percentage. Olanasaze Ojo and Alexa Ultreras pitched in seven kills each. Ojo also had two blocks.

Tea Bishop recorded a career-high with four service aces to go along with ten digs, while Hannah Dillingham registered a career-high four blocks and had five kills. Valentina Evans tied her season-high with six blocks and moved ahead of Jade Garrett for eighth on the program’s all-time blocks list with 120 career blocks.

Other notables include eleven digs from Destiny Lei Ramilo, nine digs from Annamarie Caldero, six digs and five kills from Kennedi Baker, and two aces from Haley Branley.

The two teams played tight in the early stages of the first set and were tied at 12-12. The Bobcats remained within a point trailing 17-16, however Westcliff then surged ahead and a set-ending 8-2 run put the Warriors up 1-0 in the match.

The Bobcats battled to their first set win over league-leading Westcliff this season in the second frame behind strong efforts from Ojo and Bishop, who contributed four kills and three service aces respectively in the second set alone. The Bobcats threw the first punch and led 9-5, but then Westcliff turned around and grabbed a four-point lead of their own much later at 22-18. A sideout sent Bishop behind the service line and the El Cerrito, Calif., native got the Bobcats the lead back with her aces. Shortly after, both teams took turns staving off set points. Up 28-27, Ojo put the finishing touches on the period with a kill to even the match at 1-1. 

However, it was all Westcliff after that. The Warriors led by as many as nine points in each of the next two sets and led by double figures in the fourth set. Westcliff tallied 15 kills on 28 attacks for a .357 hitting percentage in the final frame. Westcliff hit .217 across all four sets.

Looking ahead, UC Merced hosts Providence Christian College on Friday, October 21 at 6:00pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.