University of California, Merced – Bobcats Drop Road Trip Opener in Arizona

MESA, Ariz. – The University of California, Merced women’s volleyball team lost in straight sets to Park University Gilbert in the Arizona road trip opener on Thursday night, 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-20).

The Bobcats (10-13, 7-9) were led by Olanasaze Ojo‘s nine kill performance on a .280 hitting percentage. Ojo also had a block to move her ahead of McKenzie Willett for fourth on the program’s all-time blocks list with 158 career blocks.

Kennedi Baker and Hannah Dillingham pitched in five kills and four kills, respectively. Serena Choi was good for 13 assists and was one of three Bobcats to share match-high with seven digs. Haley Branley and Alexa Ultreras also had seven digs. Branley added two services aces to her Thursday night stat line.

Valentina Evans recorded three blocks for her fourth consecutive multi-block match.

Other individual notables include six digs and five assists from Bianca Malaluan and four digs and a service ace from Destiny Lei Ramilo.

Park University Gilbert was led by Maggie Scranton’s 12 kills on a .556 hitting percentage. Amanda Jonovich recorded a double-double with ten kills and ten digs. The Buccaneers operated at a .340 success rate offensivley.

The Bobcats never led in the first two sets, but did pull within three points late in the opening frame after falling behind by as many as five points. 

Head coach Ai Prachumsri‘s team threated to force a fourth set but came up short in set three. The Bobcats led 15-12 and held their last lead at 18-17 before the opponent reeled off a match-ending 8-2 run.

Looking ahead, the Bobcats continue to fight for a postseason spot when they take on Benedictine Universty Mesa on Friday, October 28 at 7:00pm at Bell Bank Park in Mesa, Ariz.