MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced men's volleyball team improved upon it's best start in program history with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-9, 26-24) win over first-time opponent Pacific Union College on Wednesday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

Aside from starting 3-0 for the first time ever, the Bobcats have also earned three straight sweeps for the first time in the eight-year history of the program.

Similar to the season opener, the Bobcats were stellar offensively and tallied 45 kills on 83 attempts, just 13 errors for a .386 hitting percentage with Tyler Vincelli running the show. The junior setter registered a career-high 42 assists.

Vincelli's primary targets were freshmen Jared Guglielmana, Ryan Kilgore and Kaikoa Soma. 

Guglielmana, who made his collegiate debut, led all players with 12 kills. The Madera, Calif., native becomes just the third player in program history to record double figure kills in his debut. The freshman hit .318 in the match and also earned his first career service ace, block, dig and assist. 

Kilgore and Soma also notched career-high's offensively. Kilgore smacked nine kills on 15 attempts without an error, logging a .600 hitting percentage from both the middle blocker and outside hitter position. 

Soma was all over the floor and the freshman contributed eight kills, three digs, two service aces and a block. All of those numbers are career-high's for the Lake Forest, Calif., native.

Like Guglielmana, Lincoln Smith also made his debut and pitched in five kills and a service ace.

Overall, 59% of the Bobcats 76 points came via the kill. Fitting, Kilgore opened up the match with a kill and the Bobcats jumped out to an early 8-1 lead. Although the lead was cut to three shortly after, it didn't take long for the Bobcats to build it back up and head coach Ai Prachumsri's team reclaimed a seven point lead at 16-9. Soma's first career service ace made it 20-12, while Guglielmana's first career service ace extended the Bobcats lead to nine at 22-13. Kilgore made it double figure's with a kill and went on to score points 24 & 25 the same way to put the Bobcats up 1-0 in the match.

A pair of 4-0 UC Merced runs allowed the Bobcats to jump out to a 9-4 lead in the second frame. Up 12-6 a few sideouts later, Kilgore delivered a dominant kill into the hardwood to spark a 7-0 run. The run, which put the Bobcats up 19-6, was also highlighted by a pair of Guglielmana kills and a Zach Brill service ace. The 13-point advantage was the Bobcats largest in the set until a Kilgore solo block extended the lead to 23-9. Ferguson and Smith ended the set immediately after with a kill and a service ace, respectively.

The third set ended up being the most tightly contested set of the season for the Bobcats and it was the first time at home since February 7, 2020 that the team was forced to score more than 25 points to win the set.

Prachumsri's squad was able to score the first four points, however PUC answered the Bobcats run with five straight points of their own to take an early lead. A Smith kill evened the set at 5-5 a serve later. Offensive surges from each team became the norm the rest of the set. At one point the Bobcats held a 15-10 lead, but the opponent climbed back in it and the score was tied 18-18. 

Other ties came at 19-19, 23-23 and 24-24. UC Merced broke the 24-24 tie with a Guglielmana kill, while Morikawa delivered match point with a kill out of the middle blocker position.

Morikawa finished with three kills on five attempts. Like Morikawa, Emmanuel Egun also was efficient and was good for four kills on five swings.

Other notables include nine Aaron Taflinger digs and four Kainoa Ferguson kills. The two also had a service ace and for Ferguson, it moved him up to the ninth spot on the program's all-time service aces chart. Ferguson has 22 in his career and is nine away from breaking into the top five.

The Bobcats limited Pacific Union College to a -.078 hitting percentage, marking the first time in program history that the Bobcats held two different opponents under .000 in a single-season.

Up next, the Bobcats host Simpson University on Monday, March 1 inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium. First serve is scheduled for 8:30pm.