University of California, Merced – Ojo Named Cal Pac Attacker of the Week

MERCED, Calif. – Olanasaze Ojo of the University of California, Merced women’s volleyball team has been named the California Pacific Conference Attacker of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday evening.

Ojo’s weekly honor is the second of her career, first earning the Defensive Player of the Week award in March of 2021 and now this week being recognized for her outstanding offensive talents.

The Bobcats middle blocker turned outside hitter averaged over 2.5 kills and 0.5 blocks per set against three of the top teams in the conference and tallied her fourth and fifth double figure kill performances of the year.

She tallied a three-set career-high 15 kills while recording an impressive .355 hitting percentage against Benedictine Mesa, and then added 14 more kills to help the Bobcats win a five-set showdown against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in a battle between the two most recent California Pacific Conference Tournament Champions.

Ojo also combined for five blocks over those two matches. Two of her five blocks were solo. Ojo and the Bobcats 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.

Ojo had two more blocks and three digs against Park University Gilbert.

Ojo is currently one of just two players in the Cal Pac averaging at least 2.5 kills and 0.5 blocks per set this year.

The Benicia, Calif., native is the second UC Merced women’s volleyball player to earn a weekly honor this year, joining Serena Choi who was named Cal Pac Setter of the Week on September 19. That makes the Bobcats one of just four Cal Pac teams (out of eleven) with multiple Players of the Week in 2022.

Overall, Ojo is the fourth student athlete across all UC Merced sports to be named a Cal Pac Player of the Week in the 2022-23 year.

Up next, UC Merced hosts Pacific Union College on Thursday, September 29, to wrap up a season-long six-match homestand. First serve is scheduled for 6:00pm.