MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team remained perfect at home this year after sweeping University of Antelope Valley on Thursday night, 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-20) inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

The Bobcats (4-6, 2-2) have now earned four straight sweeps at home dating back to last season.

Serena Choi led the Bobcats efforts with a season-high 24 assists to go along six digs, four kills, two blocks and two service aces. 

Semiramis Tanasecu tallied a career-high ten kills on an impressive .562 hitting percentage (10/1/16). The freshman also had two blocks, one solo. Tanasecu has a block in all ten matches this season.

Hannah Dillingham also finished with ten kills, her third double figure kill match in conference play already. Kennedi Baker pitched in a career-high seven kills. Tea Bishop was good for five kills, seven digs, and had two service aces for the second straight match. Senior libero Jalen Carey held team-high with a season-high three service aces.

Other notables include 13 assists and six digs from Bianca Malaluan, five digs from Annamarie Caldero, and two blocks from Teola Nowak.

The Bobcats ran away with the opening set thanks to an early 13-3 run that put head coach Ai Prachumsri's team up 17-7. Choi was one of four Bobcats with two kills during that stretch. Later on, the Bobcats upped the lead to a match-high eleven points at 23-12. The 25-18 set win was the Bobcats biggest set win in a conference match this season.

The Bobcats got off to a strong start in the second set and held a 13-8 lead after back-to-back Bishop service aces. UC Merced's lead grew to as many as seven points at 16-9 before UAV tightened it up and worked their way back to even the score at 18. Tied 22-22 soon after, Dillingham and Baker put together consecutive kills to give the Bobcats a couple opportunities at set point. Tanasecu captured it with a kill.

Tanasecu played a huge role in the Bobcats positive start in the third set, recording two blocks and a kill across the first seven rallies. Baker and Nowak recorded kills later on to put their team up 12-6. Although the lead slowly shrunk and the two teams were tied 16-16, the Bobcats answered right back with a kill from Alexa Ultreras to start a match-ending 11-4 run. Dillingham had a highlight reel kill for the Bobcats 22nd point. Carey followed with an ace, which was then immediately followed by a kill each from Tanasecu and Baker to finalize the sweep.

UC Merced finished with a .240 hitting percentage, their top mark in league action and the second highest overall this year.

The Bobcats have won eight straight matches vs. UAV dating back to the 2017 season.

Looking ahead, UC Merced hosts La Sierra University at 8:00pm on Saturday, September 17 inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.