University of California, Merced – Bobcats Force a Fifth Set but Fall to Simpson on the Road

REDDING, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women’s volleyball team took Simpson University to five sets but ultimately fell 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 25-21, 18-25, 15-9) on Saturday night at the James M. Grant Center to wrap up the first half of California Pacific Conference play.

The Bobcats (7-9, 5-5) have now forced a fifth set in two straight matches when falling behind 2-1. Head coach Ai Prachumsri‘s team has split those matches.

Olanasaze Ojo and Hannah Dillingham paced the Bobcats offense with 14 and 12 kills, respectively. The Bobcats two outside hitters have each reached double figure kills in six matches this year. Ojo and Dillingham also had three blocks, one solo for Dillingham and her three total blocks was a career-high. Ojo’s multi-block match was her fifth in a row and she has now passed Rachael Schafer for fifth on the program’s all-time blocks list with 149 career blocks.

Valentina Evans finished with seven kills and a season-high six blocks, two solo. 

Teola Nowak pitched in eight kills, while Serena Choi and Semiramis Tanasecu had six kills. Choi also added 26 assists, eight digs, and two solo blocks. Bianca Malaluan was good for 20 assists and six digs.

Tea Bishop shined defensively with a career-high 21 digs and a team-high two service aces. Her 21 digs marked the second highest digs output by any Bobcat this season. Jalen Carey added 14 digs, while Destiny Lei Ramilo contributed 12 digs.

Other notables include four kills from Alexa Ultreras, three blocks from Tanasecu and two blocks from Nowak. Tanasecu and Nowak each had a solo block.

UC Merced tallied a season-high 13 blocks as a team, their most since November 14, 2019.

The Bobcats also recorded their second most kills (59) and assists this year (57).

Despite it being the Bobcats first road match in three weeks, the Bobcats got off to a great start and either led or were tied with the Red Hawks for 98% of the opening set. A 7-0 run allowed the Bobcats to jump out to an early 13-7 lead, and UC Merced remained in front until Simpson pulled even at 18-18. Choi and Evans had an answer to the tie and a kill and a solo block from each of them helped get the Bobcats to 25 points, winning 25-20.

UC Merced trailed by four points early in the second set before an 11-4 run highlighted by a trio of Dillingham kills surged the Bobcats forward to take a 13-10 lead. The Bobcats extended their lead to four points at 17-13, but the lead vanished…