TURLOCK, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team earned their first ever win against a CCAA opponent at the Stan State Tournament on Thursday afternoon, sweeping Chico State 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-23) behind a three-set program-record 51 kills. In the second match of the tournament, the Bobcats (2-5) fell 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-10) to host Stanislaus State.
Also of note, the Bobcats win over Chico State was the first for any UC Merced Athletics team since UC Merced women's basketball beat San Francisco State in 2016.
Match One | UC Merced 3, Chico State 0
Outside hitters Sera Riley and Alexa Ultreras recorded a double-double, while reigning California Pacific Conference Setter of the Week Kyra Miller tallied a career-high 38 assists to help lead the Bobcats to their three-set program record 51 kills. Prior to tonight, the Bobcats previous kills record in a straight-set match was 50 kills back on October 18, 2014.
Riley was the Bobcats leader with 17 kills and ten digs which marked her fourth career double-double.
Ultreras was good for 14 kills on a .303 hitting percentage and eleven digs. Her double-double was her second of the season and 12th of her career, her first ever in a straight-set win. Both Bobcats also had a service ace.
Miller added eight digs, three kills, and a block to her career-high 38 assists. Also of note, the sophomore passed Edwena Wong for ninth on the program's all-time assists list with 257 career assists.
Serena Choi also moved up the program record books on Thursday after registering seven digs and a service ace. Choi moved ahead of Genna Garrett for fourth all-time with 76 career service aces and moved into ninth all-time passing Wong with 535 career digs.
Other match notables include six kills each from Kennedi Baker and Morgan Wilson, five kills from Semiramis Tanasescu, and two service aces each from Destiny Lei Ramilo and Jazmine Banks.
UC Merced recorded a season-best .254 hitting percentage in the victory, including starting off hot with a .311 success rate in the opening set. The Bobcats limited Chico State to a .159 hitting percentage in the third and final set to finish off the sweep. Chico State only registered two service aces.
Match Two | Stan State 3, UC Merced 0
The Bobcats played back-to-back matches on day one of three at the Stan State Tournament and weren't able to carry their Chico State win momentum into the contest against tournament host Stan State.
Miller finished with 13 assists, nine digs, and a career-high four blocks.
Riley added seven kills and a service ace, while Wilson and Tanasescu had two blocks each.
Haley Branley and Ultreras turned in nine and six digs, respectively.
Stan State was led by Malia Tanksley's nine kills on a .563 hitting percentage and three blocks. The Warriors won the match behind a .310 hitting percentage overall.
UC Merced grabbed an early lead in the first two frames, including 9-4 in the opening set before being on the wrong end of a sweep.
Destiny Lei Ramilo played in all three sets and moved ahead of Rachael Schaefer for second all-time in program history with 372 career sets played.
Up next, UC Merced will play Jessup on Friday, September 13 at 2:30pm inside Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock, Calif.
