MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team outlasted Stanislaus State on Thursday night in five sets, winning 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 15-25, 19-25, 15-10) inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
With the victory, the Bobcats (6-18, 5-10) earn their first ever win over Stanislaus State and improve to 3-1 in five-set matches this year. The Bobcats tied their season-high's with 77 digs and 14 service aces.
Sera Riley led the Bobcats with 12 kills, a career-high 25 digs, and a season-high five service aces. Thursday night marked her eighth kill/dig double-double of the season.
Kyra Miller was stellar and finished with 22 assists, nine digs, eight kills, a career-high tying five blocks, and three service aces.
Ellie Gordon finished with 18 assists and a career-high tying three service aces.
Jazmine Banks tallied 21 digs for her second 20+ dig outing of the campaign. She also turned in a season-high three service aces and five assists.
Semiramis Tanasescu was good for six kills and five blocks, two solo.
Morgan Wilson added six kills and four blocks, one solo. Both Tanasescu's and Wilson's blocks output tied their season-high's.
Yahaira Vazquez and Kylah Guzman added seven kills each.
The Bobcats led for all but one rally in the opening set and led by as many as seven points to jump out to the 1-0 match lead. Stan State battled all the way back to make it a one point game at 23-22, but Vazquez and Riley delivered back-to-back kills to win the first frame. Overall, the first set had plenty of fireworks with a combined 33 kills from the two teams.
UC Merced used a 7-0 run with Gordon behind the service line to change the dynamic of the second set. The Bobcats trailed at the time of the surge but the burst put head coach Ai Prachumsri's team ahead 16-13. Later in the set, the Bobcats scored four straight points highlighted by back-to-back aces from Miller to put her team up 23-18. The Bobcats won shortly after, 25-20, to go up 2-0.
The Bobcats had to play from behind for the entire third set and remained within striking distance at 16-13. However, the Warriors created separation from there with four straight points and used a 9-2 extended run to win the set 25-15. Stan State recorded a .379 hitting percentage in the frame.
Stan State got off to a fast start in the fourth set with an 8-3 lead and extended its advantage to 15-6 a little later en route to forcing a fifth set. UC Merced didn't get any closer than five points the rest of the set.
The Bobcats struck first in the fifth set and led wire-to-wire. Natalie Riley helped the strong start with two quick kills that had her team up 5-1. The Bobcats led 8-6 when the teams switched sides and then Tanasescu and Miller combined for a block to add to the lead. Shortly after, S. Riley delivered back-to-back service aces to give the Bobcats a 12-7 lead. Wilson finished the job for UC Merced with back-to-back blocks, including a solo block for match point.
Up next, UC Merced will host San Francisco State for Senior Night on Saturday, November 8. First serve is scheduled for 5:00pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium. The Senior Night ceremony will take place prior to the match.
