University of California, Merced – Bobcats Handle Westcliff University in Four Sets

MERCED, Calif. – Olivia Harden led three Bobcats in double figure kills with 19 overall and the University of California, Merced women’s volleyball team defeated first-time opponent Westcliff University in four-sets, 3-1 (18-25, 25-21, 25-12, 25-21) on Saturday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

The Bobcats (5-11, 5-2) victory came on the same night the 2020 team was presented their California Pacific Conference Tournament Championship rings.

Harden’s 19 kills gives her a new season-high and it is her second highest kills output in her career behind her 22 from the Cal Pac Championship game. The 19 was also match-high and she has been the match’s leader over the entire three-match homestand. Furthermore, Harden had at least 17 kills in all three matches and becomes just the second player in program history with a streak that long. Harden joins Jade Fachin, who had 17+ kills in each of the final three games of the 2017 season.

Additionally, Harden hit .269 and added seven digs and two blocks to one of her best career performances. 

The other two Bobcats joining Harden with double figures on Saturday night were Olanasaze Ojo and Lexus Lagumbay. Ojo finished with 12 kills on a .526 (12/2/19) hitting percentage, while Lagumbay tallied ten kills and hit .429 (10/1//21). Both of Ojo’s numbers were just short of a career-high and she has tallied double figures with a .500 hitting percentage or better twice this year.

Ojo and Lagumbay were also key factors in other areas of the game, recording four blocks and two service aces, respectively. Two of Ojo’s blocks were solo, holding match-high in that category. With her efforts, the sophomore passed up Genesis Hester (2015-18) for second on the program’s all-time list with 40 career solo blocks.

Lagumbay extended her service ace streak to a career-best five matches. She has 13 total service aces in the stretch, averaging out to .7 per set. 

Valentina Evans had a stellar night with a career-high eight blocks while also contributing six kills on a .333 hitting percentage. The junior is the seventh player in program history to tally at least eight blocks in a match. Evans had ten blocks on the season entering Saturday night. 

Offensively, Evans had 18 swings and didn’t record an error. Her .333 hitting percentage was her highest of the year with a minimum of ten attempts.

Teola Nowak was in on five of Evans’ blocks which tied her career-high originally set back on April…