RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Alexa Ultreras and Sera Riley recorded monster double-doubles but the University of California, Merced women's volleyball team dropped their first conference match of the season in a five-set battle to La Sierra University on Thursday night, falling 3-2 (15-25, 25-19, 25-19, 17-25, 15-12).
Despite the loss, the Bobcats (9-7, 5-1) remain in first place in the California Pacific Conference standings.
Ultreras led the Bobcats with a career-high 25 kills and eleven digs. Her kills output is the fourth highest in program history and the highest by any Bobcat in a true road match all-time. Thursday night marked her second double-double in a row and eighth of the season. The Merced, Calif., native maintained a. 375 hitting percentage.
Riley, the reigning Cal Pac Attacker of the Week, tallied 16 kills and a career-high 24 digs for her fourth consecutive double-double and seventh of her junior campaign. This marked her second straight double-double with 16+ kills and 20+ digs continuing her case for a major Cal Pac postseason award.
Semiramis Tanasescu had a season-high nine kills and added four blocks, while Morgan Wilson was good for seven kills and four blocks. Both middles notched one solo block. For Wilson, it was her fourth straight match with a solo block.
Kyra Miller stuffed the sheet dishing 39 assists to go along with seven digs, a career-high tying five blocks, three kills, and two service aces. Ellie Gordon added 12 assists.
Other notables include eleven digs and two service aces from Destiny Lei Ramilo, a career-high nine digs from Kennedi Baker, and six digs and two service aces from Jazmine Banks.
UC Merced reached season-high's of 63 kills, 62 assists, and 84 digs as a team. The Bobcats haven't put up a combination to that standard since September of 2023.
Despite the loss, UC Merced recorded 16 more kills and 16 more digs than the Golden Eagles. The Bobcats also recorded a higher hitting percentage, but nine more service errors on the Bobcats side was a difference maker.
The Bobcats started the night with the most dominant set either team put together all night, hitting .394 while holding the Golden Eagles to a .033 mark. The Bobcats never trailed in the set and opened up on a 7-2 run. The advantage remained between 3-6 points until late when the Bobcats scored five straight points to go up by double figures at 23-13. The Bobcats scored all five points in the run, including two from Ultreras Kills. Both teams then traded two errors each, resulting in the Bobcats 25-15 set one win.
La Sierra scored four straight points to start the second set and the Bobcats never overcame the early deficit. The Bobcats managed to pull within a point at 6-5 via a Riley ace, but couldn't tie it up and the Golden Eagles responded with a 6-1 run to create separation they needed. La Sierra's biggest lead was 18-10 on their way to the 25-19 set two win.
UC Merced dropped the third set despite leading 9-4 early on and 15-12 midway through the frame. A 5-0 La Sierra run switched momentum and then after an Ultreras kill, the Golden Eagles followed with another 5-0 run to go up 22-16. The Golden Eagles won 25-19.
The Bobcats bounced back in the fourth set behind 17 kills and a .343 hitting percentage to win the frame 25-17. UC Merced's first four points all came from a kill from four different players and then back-to-back kills midway through the set from Ultreras had the Bobcats ahead 15-10. Up 17-12 shortly after, head coach Ai Prachumsri's team fired off five straight points to extend the lead to double figures at 22-12. Miller was behind the service line during the run and had one ace. After the team traded sideouts, Baker smacked a kill for the Bobcats 24th point and then Banks forced a fifth set scoring set point with a service ace.
La Sierra scored the first two points in the decisive fifth set before the Bobcats answered back with a 7-2 run highlighted by three Ultreras kills and an ace from Lei Ramilo. But, the home team came back with a 4-0 run and the Golden Eagles led 8-7 when the teams switched sides. UC Merced tied the game one play later, but the opponent still had momentum and inched closer to match point with a 5-0 run. Trailing 13-8, the Bobcats scored three straight to come within two points but a UC Merced service error set up match point for La Sierra and they secured the victory two rallies later on a Torri Lambert kill.
Up next, UC Merced will play at Providence Christian College on Friday, October 18 in Pasadena, Calif. First serve from Clement Court is scheduled for 6:00pm.
