PASADENA, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team closed its nonconference schedule with a sweep over Caltech on Saturday afternoon, winning by set scores of 25-22, 25-17, 25-21.

The Bobcats (4-6) sweep was their second of the season, marking their most in nonconference play since 2015.

UC Merced knocked off Caltech in part due to a three-set five-year high eleven blocks.

Semiramis Tanasescu led the way with a career-high eight blocks and she also added six kills on nine swings without an error for a .667 hitting percentage. Her blocking efforts moved her ahead of Rachael Schaefer for sixth in program history with 149 career blocks.

Krya Miller had 24 assists, a career-high five blocks, and four digs.

Her pin hitters Kennedi Baker and Sera Riley turned in eight and seven kills, respectively.

Morgan Wilson added seven kills and Alexa Ultreras had five. Both Bobcats also had two blocks.

Destiny Lei Ramilo recorded eleven digs.

Other notables include seven digs from Sera Riley, six assists from Ellie Gordon, and two service aces from Yahaira Vazquez.

UC Merced used a 5-0 run and a 6-0 run to help win the opening set. Head coach Ai Prachumsri's team led 21-14 after the latter run highlighted by two kills from Ultreras. Riley also had an ace during the spurt. A little later, Miller and Tanasescu teamed up for a block for set point and put the Bobcats up 1-0 in the match.

The Bobcats jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the second set and led by at least four points the rest of the frame. The Bobcats led by seven points at 15-8 and extended it to eight points by the end of the frame including as early as the 23-15 mark following back-to-back Tanasescu blocks.

UC Merced had to overcome a 15-5 deficit to finish off the sweep against Caltech in the third set. Baker helped spark the comeback and then Jazmine Banks went behind the service line and helped bring the Bobcats within three at 15-12.  Shortly after, Vazquez got rolling while playing just 15 minutes from her high school. She delivered a kill and then tallied back-to-back service aces to put the Bobcats in front 19-17. Then leading 21-20, a Riley kill sparked a 4-1 match-ending run that she also put the finishing touches on with her seventh and final kill of the match.

Saturday's meeting was the first ever between UC Merced and Caltech. It was also the Bobcats first match against a NCAA Division III opponent since 2021 and the first ever meeting against a SCIAC foe.

UC Merced limited Caltech to a .000 hitting percentage and to just 23 kills and two blocks.

Up next, UC Merced will begin California Pacific Conference play at the Cal Pac Jamboree on Thursday, October 3 in Redding, Calif.