University of California, Merced – Bobcats Win Five-Set Thriller in Battle Between Two Recent Champs

MERCED, Calif. – Serena Choi recorded another triple-double and the University of California, Merced women’s volleyball team won a five-set showdown in a battle between the two most recent California Pacific Conference Tournament champions on Saturday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium, 3-2 (17-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 15-9).

The Bobcats (6-8, 4-4) win was the first against Embry-Riddle since 2016 (ten matches) and with that win (Oct. 16, 2015) and Saturday night’s win, the Bobcats are the only team with multiple Cal Pac wins over Embry-Riddle in that stretch.

Choi’s triple-double was highlighted by a career-high 12 kills on a .300 hitting percentage. Choi also had 19 assists and ten digs to complete her second career triple-double. The Irvine, Calif., native is the only Bobcat in program history with a triple-double. Choi also tied her season-high with three blocks.

Olanasaze Ojo and Hannah Dillingham had 14 and 13 kills, respectively. The Bobcats outside hitters both have five double figure kill matches this season. Dillingham’s 13 kills marked a career-high. Ojo added three blocks, one solo, to her offensive efforts.

Semiramis Tanasecu and Annamarie Caldero highlighted the Bobcats defense and both notched career-high’s. Tanasecu went off for seven blocks, three solo. Caldero finished with 22 digs. Both numbers also mark the most amount of blocks and digs by any Bobcat this season. Tanasecu has now tallied totals of seven, six, and five blocks in her freshman campaign.

Bianca Malaluan posted career-high’s of 25 assists and 14 digs for her second double-double of the season.

Destiny Lei Ramilo contributed 14 digs, five assists, and tied her career-high with four service aces. Tea Bishop had 14 digs and a service ace. Haley Branley also added a service ace.

Valentina Evans was good for six kills and three blocks, while Teola Nowak added four kills and two blocks. 

Multiple career outings helped the Bobcats come from behind in the win, the Bobcats first win after trailing 1-2 in a match since April 1, 2021. 

After never leading in the first set, the Bobcats bounced back nicely in the second set and immediately opened with a Choi kill. Tied 9-9 later on, Choi and Tanasecu combined for a block that led to a run pushing the Bobcats lead to 13-9. The Bobcats also led by four points at 17-13. The Bobcats found themselves tied 18-18 down the stretch, but answered with a 7-1 set ending run to even the…