ROCKLIN, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team suffered a 3-2 (25-15, 21-25, 18-25, 25-20, 15-11) setback at Jessup University in Tuesday's nonconference finale.
The Bobcats (1-10) have now played four consecutive five-set matches, the longest five-set streak since the 2016 campaign.
Alexa Ultreras has notched a double-double in all four of the five-set affairs and was good for 14 kills and eleven digs on Tuesday.
Sera Riley pitched in nine kills and seven digs, while Kennedi Baker had five kills and three blocks. Semiramis Tanasescu, who returned from injury to make her 2023 debut, also had five kills.
Serena Choi tallied a season-high 21 assists to go along with nine digs, five kills, two service aces, and two blocks. Choi's two aces moved her ahead of Rachael Schaefer for eighth in program history with 70 career aces. Bianca Malaluan added 14 assists and eight digs.
California Pacific Conference Defensive Player of the Week Destiny Lei Ramilo extended her 20+ dig streak to three consecutive matches with a 22-dig Tuesday evening performance.
Other notables include five kills and two blocks from Morgan Wilson and two service aces from Haley Branley.
Despite the loss, head coach Ai Prachumsri's team recorded a season-high .173 hitting percentage. The Bobcats operated at a .375 success rate in the third set and hit at least .110 in four of the five sets.
The lone set the Bobcats didn't hit over .100 was in the opening frame, while Jessup hit .619 to start the match and led wire-to-wire in their 25-15 set one win.
The Bobcats bounced back in the second set, grabbing their first lead at 10-9 and extending their lead to as many as six points as early as the 16-10 mark. Baker and Tanasescu each had a kill and a block in the surge. The Bobcats led by at least three points the rest of the way to win the set and tie the match at one.
UC Merced led the third set start to finish behind their .375 hitting percentage. A 4-0 run early on highlighted by an Ultreras kill had the Bobcats up 9-4, while a Riley kill later on scored the Bobcats 15th point which at the time put the squad up 15-7. UC Merced also led by eight points at 20-12, ultimately winning the frame 25-18. Choi recorded set point with a kill.
The Bobcats were within a point at 12-11 in the fourth set before a 4-0 Jessup run created initial separation. A Malaluan ace brought the Bobcats within two points, but another opponent run followed and the Bobcats were never able to recover and fell 25-20 in the fourth set.
UC Merced's only lead in the fifth set was 2-1 following a Riley kill and a Jessup attack error, though the Bobcats forced six ties with the latest tie being 11-11. A UC Merced attack error gave Jessup a 12-11 lead and then three unanswered Jessup kills won the home team the fifth set and the match.
Jessup finished the match with a .258 success rate, hitting .300 or better in the final two frames to earn the comeback victory after trailing 2-1.
Up next, UC Merced opens California Pacific Conference play with La Sierra University at home on Thursday, September 7. The Cal Pac opener also marks the Bobcats home opener. First serve inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium is scheduled for 6:00pm.
