MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team opens the 2024 season at the Otter Invitational Volleyball Tournament on Friday at the Kelp Bed in Seaside, Calif. The Bobcats will play four matches over the weekend beginning with NCAA Division II powerhouse Nebraska Kearney at 10:00am on Friday. Cal State Monterey Bay is the tournament host.

Friday, Sept. 6

10:00am - UC Merced vs. Nebraska Kearney

4:00pm - UC Merced vs. Menlo College

Saturday, Sept. 7

12:00pm - UC Merced vs. Westmont College

6:00pm – UC Merced vs. Cal State Monterey Bay

LINKS - OTTER INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT PAGE | LIVE STATS | TICKETS | LIVESTREAM (VS. CSUMB ONLY)

 
OPENING SERVE

- UC Merced was picked to win the California Pacific Conference, splitting the first place votes with La Sierra University in the 2024 Cal Pac Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Bobcats were picked to win the conference title for the first time since 2020 and the second time in program history.

- With a win Friday morning, UC Merced would notch its top regular season win in program history and would win their season opener for the second time in the last three years.

ABOUT THE BOBCATS

- The Bobcats finished 12-8 in Cal Pac play a year ago and advanced to the tournament semifinals after a five-set match win over Park University Gilbert in the Cal Pac Opening Round.

- All-Cal Pac Second Team selections Alexa Ultreras and Destiny Lei Ramilo return in 2024. Honorable mention Sera Riley also returns. Serena Choi returns for a fifth season.

- Overall, UC Merced returns 98% of its blocks, 97% of its total kills, 87% of its digs, 84% of its service aces, and 62% of its assists from last season.

- Ultreras became the first player in program history and was the only NAIA player in the West Coast last year to eclipse 330 kills and 380 digs.

- Lei Ramilo broke the program's single-season digs record a season ago with 543 total digs, nearly 100 more than the previous record that stood since 2018.

- Haley Branley broke the program's single-season record with 130 sets played, surpassing a record that previously remained intact since 2014.

- Morgan Wilson, now a sophomore, became just the second freshman in program history a year ago to tally 175+ kills and 65+ blocks. Dominique Andrews accomplished the feat in 2016.

- UC Merced set program-records with 1,528 kills, 1,446 assists, 2,284 digs, and 239 service aces in 2023.

BACK FOR MORE

- Serena Choi and Destiny Lei Ramilo are returning for their fifth year of eligibility and have climbed up the record books throughout their careers.

- Choi is currently ranked fourth in program history with 1,315 career assists, is fifth with 3.77 assists per set and 75 service aces, is eighth with 1,353 total attempts, ninth with 435 kills and 131 blocks, and is tenth with 518 digs.

- Lei Ramilo is currently ranked second in program history with 98 career service aces, is third with 1,030 digs, fifth with 2.91 digs per set, and ninth with 0.27 service aces per set.

THE SETTING SITUATION

- UC Merced graduated setter Bianca Malaluan a year ago, who finished her career ranked third in program history with 1,340 career assists. Despite the absence of Malaluan, the Bobcats have a multitude of options to quarterback the offense in 2024. 
- Ellie Gordon and Kyra Miller both have experience setting in Prachumsri's system, as do former setters and now pin hitters Serena Choi and Jaide Davis.
- UC Merced also added freshman setter Kaitlyn Anderson to the squad, who was an All-Mission Valley League Second Team selection a year ago and helped lead James Logan High School to a 34-5 overall record and a 14-0 mark in league play.

THE NEWCOMERS

- Ai Prachumsri landed a five-player recruiting class that includes a setter and four front row targets. Setter Kaitlyn Anderson committed to the Bobcats along with opposites Tangi Netane and Yahaira Vazquez, outside hitter Taylor Crayne, and middle blocker Ayana Ruffin. Anderson (James Logan H.S.) and Netane (Saint Francis H.S.) both come from Bay Area powerhouses and led their squads to a 34-5 record and 35-6 record, respectively, in their senior high school seasons.

COACHING STAFF

- UC Merced is led by ninth year head coach Ai Prachumsri. Prachumsri, who is six wins away from 100 career wins, has guided the Bobcats to seven Cal Pac Championship Tournaments. UC Merced won their first tournament championship in 2020. Caroline Mack enters her eighth season as an assistant coach with Prachumsri.

A FEW FACTS ABOUT THE OPPONENTS

Nebraska Kearney

- UNK is ranked ninth in the nation and have made 24 consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament
- Honorable Mention All-American setter Peyton Neff returns after averaging 11.4 assists per set in 2023
- 2023 All-MIAA postseason honorees Lauren Taubenheim (463 digs)  and Asha Regier (312 kills) are back for the Lopers

Menlo

- Head coach Lesli Akeo begins her first season at the helm of Menlo College, joining the Oaks following serving as an assistant coach at Syracuse
- Menlo, who is in its second year transitioning to NCAA Division II, received votes in the final NAIA Top 25 Poll a year ago
- All-GSAC performers Giulia Marinelli and Maya Saole-Su'e return for the Oaks in 2024

 
Westmont

- Westmont returns a ton of talent, but Taylor Distelberg headlines Westmont's roster coming off a season in which the All-PacWest selection tallied 124 blocks and a .324 hitting percentage
- Westmont gained full NCAA Division II membership over the summer
- Westmont played in seven straight NAIA national tournaments prior to moving to NCAA

CSUMB

- Jackie Wahl is the Otters top returner and comes back for her senior year after registering 227 kills, 183 digs, and 32 service aces in 2023.
- The Otters went 1-3 in the Otter Invitational a year ago, earning a sweep over Dominican.
- CSUMB is a member of the CCAA and is a future conference opponent for the Bobcats


HISTORY AGAINST THE OPPONENTS

- UC Merced will play Nebraska Kearney and CSUMB for the first time in program history, but is very familiar with Menlo College.
- The Oaks are the fifth-most frequently played opponent for UC Merced. UC Merced's last win against the Oaks was in 2019 at the Jessup Invitational. The Bobcats are 3-19 all-time against Menlo.
- The Bobcats are searching for their first win in five tries against Westmont College.

 
GETTING READY FOR THE REAL DEAL

- UC Merced scrimmaged UC Santa Cruz and swept Dominican 3-0 in an exhibition match on Labor Day to help prepare for the season. The Bobcats also played their annual alumni game during the preseason.
 

NCAA DIVISION II BOUND