University of California, Merced – Bobcats Fall to BenU, But Morikawa Jumps to #2 on All-Time Kills List

MESA, Ariz. – The University of California, Merced men’s volleyball team fell in straight sets to 12th-ranked Benedictine University Mesa on Sunday afternoon, 0-3 (19-25,15-25, 17-25) at Bell Bank Park completing a two-match Arizona road trip.

Despite the setback, Chris Morikawa furthered his UC Merced legacy as he moved up the program’s all-time record books in three different statistical categories. Morikawa passed Joseph Webb for second in program history with 531 career kills, moved ahead of Matthew Pelfini for fourth all-time with 46 career service aces, and moved into a tie with Cole Smith for seventh with 19 career solo blocks.

The junior had seven digs, six kills, two blocks and a service ace in the match. Morikawa has delivered a service ace in a career-best five straight matches.

Ryan Steele tallied 14 assists, three digs, and three kills without an error. 

Middle blockers Brennan Taylor and Colin Ryan each had two kills and at least one block. 

Kainoa Ferguson was good for four digs. Jozef Lingenfelter notched his first career Cal Pac service ace.

BenU Mesa was led by Caleb Stearman’s ten kills and three blocks. Setter Daxton Tolman had 31 assists and four service aces while running the Redhawks offense to a .347 success rate.

The Bobcats were unable to grab a lead in any of the three sets. 

Head coach Ai Prachumsri‘s team stayed close in the opening frame and came within two points late at 21-19 after back-to-back blocks, including Morikawa’s solo block. However, BenU Mesa followed with four straight points to win the set and go up 1-0 in the match.

BenU Mesa pulled away late in both the second and third sets. Leading 15-12 in the second set, the Redhawks put away the Bobcats with a 10-3 run. It was 17-16 in the third set before BenU Mesa finished off the sweep with an 8-1 match ending surge.

Looking ahead, UC Merced returns home to take on University of Saint Katherine on Saturday, March 19 at 3:00pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.