University of California, Merced – Choi Honored as Cal Pac Setter of the Week

MERCED, Calif. – Serena Choi of the University of California, Merced women’s volleyball team has been named the California Pacific Conference Setter of the Week, as announced by the league office Tuesday morning.

Choi’s weekly honor is the second of her career and both awards have come in the last six selection periods. No other setter has more weekly honors than Choi in that span.

Choi averaged nearly six assists and a block per set this past week in a pair of road matches at Simpson University and UC Santa Cruz. 

In the Cal Pac match against Simpson, the sophomore was good for 14 assists and a season-high four blocks to propel the Bobcats to a four-set win. The win improved UC Merced to 3-1 in conference play, marking their best start since the 2015 season and their second best start all-time. The win also marked the Bobcats eighth straight road win against Simpson dating back to 2014.

Choi, who split setting duties with Bianca Malaluan at Simpson, was the Bobcats primary setter at UC Santa Cruz on Saturday and neared a three-set career-high with 27 assists. In addition to her offensive success, Choi notched a career-high three solo blocks against a Banana Slugs team which is ranked eighth in the NCAA DIII in hitting percentage and 16th in kills per set. Even more impressive, Choi is the only player out of UC Santa Cruz’s 14 opponents to record multiple solo blocks. UCSC had allowed just nine solo blocks all season entering the contest.

The Irvine, Calif., native also added eight digs, two kills and a service ace last week. Choi’s 41 total assists allowed her to become the sixth player in program history to eclipse 500 career assists.

UC Merced women’s volleyball has seen two student athletes win weekly honors this year. Edwena Wong was named the Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Week on September 21. 

Overall, UC Merced Athletics has five weekly honors through the early stages of the 2021 campaign. Women’s volleyball and men’s soccer each have two, women’s soccer has one award winner.

Looking ahead, Choi and the Bobcats host Marymount California University in their home opener on Thursday, September 30. First serve from Hostetler Court inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium is scheduled for 7:00pm.