MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team split the first two sets but fell to 22nd-ranked University of Saint Katherine 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-20, 25-10) on Saturday afternoon inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (8-15, 7-5) are one of just three Cal Pac teams to win either the first or second set against USK this year. USK is 13-0 in league action and has won 17 straight matches overall.
Serena Choi led the Bobcats offensively with 12 kills on a .370 hitting percentage, extending her double figure kill streak to a career-best three consecutive matches.
Semiramis Tanasescu finished with seven kills and four blocks, two solo. While Choi has strung together three straight solid offensive outings, Tanasescu has done it on the defensive end and has three straight matches with four or more blocks which is a career-best streak.
Kennedi Baker and Morgan Wilson had six and five kills, respectively.
Ellie Gordon contributed 20 assists and two service aces, while Kyra Miller turned in a career-high with 14 assists. Miller also had five digs and a service ace.
Destiny Lei Ramilo recorded 14 digs. Alexa Ultreras was good for 13 digs and Jazmine Banks finished with ten digs.
University of Saint Katherine was led by Naomie Cremoux's 18 kills and 12 digs. Mekenna Clugston had six service aces. USK had 15 aces overall.
UC Merced and USK traded narrow leads through the early stages of the first set before three runs, two from USK, defined the rest of the frame. USK embarked on the first run, breaking an 8-8 tie and going on a surge to grab a 17-11 lead. UC Merced countered with a 9-0 run to jump in front 20-17, highlighted by back-to-back Tanasescu blocks. Gordon was behind the service line during the run and had one ace. After USK pulled even at 20-20, the Bobcats scored back-to-back points to go up 22-20 but couldn't score the rest of the way and USK would end up winning the period 25-20.
The Bobcats recovered to win the second set wire-to-wire. Wilson and Baker combined for three straight kills to start the set and the Bobcats extended their lead to six points at the 10-4 mark. The Bobcats advantage shrunk to a single point at times, but the Bobcats always had an answer to avoid a tie. Up 15-14, the Bobcats started to create separation. UC Merced went up 18-15 and shortly after a Gordon service ace put the home team ahead 22-17. Sera Riley scored set point on a kill with the Bobcats winning the set 25-22 to even up the match.
The third set saw six early lead changes and no team grab a lead larger than two points until USK went up 13-10 after back-to-back Cremoux kills. USK also led 15-11 before the Bobcats fought back to jump ahead 18-17. After a sideout, the Bobcats won the point right back with a Choi kill. However, USK became dominant from that point forward, winning the set 25-20 and then carrying that momentum over to the fourth set.
The Firebirds jumped out to an 11-2 lead and never looked back in what would be the final frame. USK led by ten points at the 19-9 mark and then after it became 20-10, USK went on a 5-0 match-ending run with a Makenzie Nutting kill for match point. Cremoux was behind the service line for the final push.
The Bobcats home loss was their first of the season, snapping a six-match home winning streak dating back to last year.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will begin a three-match road trip at Westcliff University on Thursday, October 19. First serve from Irvine, Calif., is scheduled for 7:00pm.
