RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team fell to La Sierra University in a marathon five-set affair, 3-2 (25-15, 22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 15-13) on Saturday night inside Alumni Pavilion.

In the setback, the Bobcats (9-10, 6-6) tallied their most attacks (203) and most digs (107) in a match since November 11, 2017.

Destiny Lei Ramilo led the Bobcats and helped slow the La Sierra attack with a 2022 team-high and a career-high 23 digs. Annamarie Caldero finished with 19 digs.

Semiramis Tanasecu was also strong defensively with five blocks, three of which were solo to tie her career-high. Tanasecu also had eight kills to mark her second match in the last three outings with at least eight kills and four blocks.

Bianca Malaluan had a career-night with a career-high 27 assists to go along with 13 digs for her third double-double of the season. 

Olanasaze Ojo led the Bobcats attack with 14 kills and passed Lexus Lagumbay for eighth on the program's all-time list with 406 career kills. Valentina Evans added nine kills on 12 attempts for an impressive .667 hitting percentage, her highest ever success rate with a minimum of ten attacks. Evans' nine kills were also just one short of tying her career-high. 

Hannah Dillingham and Alexa Ultreras pitched in eight kills each, while Kennedi Baker added six kills. Ultreras tied her career-high in kills.

Other notables include ten digs from Tea Bishop, nine digs from Jalen Carey, seven assists from Jaide Davis, and two service aces each from Serena Choi and Ellie Gordon. Choi had to leave the match in the second set due to an injury and was unable to return.

The opening set got away from the Bobcats after allowing an 11-0 La Sierra run, but the Bobcats bounced back nicely in the second set and went punch for punch with the Golden Eagles. Tied 15-15, the Bobcats surged ahead with a 5-1 run highlighted by two Ojo kills. A Baker kill allowed UC Merced to push the advantage to as many as six points at 24-18 before ultimately winning the set 25-22.

The Bobcats turned a 14-10 deficit into a 16-15 lead in the third set but were unable to build on it and couldn't overcome a late La Sierra run. Despite falling in the set, the Bobcats staved off three La Sierra set points with the help of Malaluan.

In the fourth set, UC Merced trailed by as many as five points before Evans caught fire and delivered three kills in a four-rally stretch to help build Bobcat momentum. A little later trailing 11-10, a Baker kill allowed the Bobcats to sideout and Gordon followed with a strong service run to put the Bobcats up 17-11. Head coach Ai Prachumsri's team led by at least four points for the next ten rallies, but saw their lead vanish as La Sierra came back to tie the set 24-24. Dillingham broke the tie with a kill, and then Tanasecu and Nowak combined for a block to send the match to a decisive fifth set.

UC Merced scored three of the first four points in the fifth set and also led by two points at 11-9, but a La Sierra 3-0 run put the Bobcats in a tough spot. After a timeout, Tanasecu notched a solo block to pull even but that was as close as the Bobcats would come and fell 15-13 in the marathon fifth set.

The Bobcats have alternated wins and losses in all eight five-set matches this season. Prior to 2022, the Bobcats had combined for just seven five-set affairs in the last three seasons.

Looking ahead, UC Merced returns home to host Westcliff University to start a three-match homestand on Thursday, October 20 at 3:00pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.