ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's volleyball team hit .553 in a sweep over Soka University of America on Thursday night, winning by set scores of 25-4, 25-9, and 25-10.
With the sweep, the Bobcats (8-10, 6-1) earned back-to-back sweeps for the first time since the 2021 season. Also of note, the Bobcats three-match winning streak overall is a season-long.
UC Merced's .553 hitting percentage marked the second highest in program history. Defensively, the Bobcats held Soka to a -.333 clip.
The Bobcats used a rotating lineup throughout the match with all 17 active players seeing action.
Cody Evans and Jared Guglielmana turned in five kills without an error. Evans also added a career-high three service aces and two blocks. Guglielmana was credited with three digs and a solo block.
Gannon Connors was good for five kills and four digs, while Donovan Guglielmana turned in four kills and a service ace.
Brayden Van Kuren and Toby Miller recorded 14 and eleven assists, respectively. Miller delivered three aces.
Other notables include three kills on three swings for both Brennan Taylor and Kaleb Cole.
The Bobcats went on many long runs throughout the night, including a 12-0 set-ending run in the first set to start the night with a 1-0 match lead. Miller was the Bobcats server in the run in which he delivered all three of his aces. Taylor captured set point with a solo block.
UC Merced put together a pair of 4-0 spurts in the second set to take an early 8-1 lead. After a sideout, Donovan Guglielmana put away a kill and then he was set to serve. With Guglielmana serving, the Bobcats ran away with the set by going on a 7-0 run. The Bobcats led 15-2 after the burst on their way to the 25-9 set two victory.
The Bobcats led 13-2 in the third set highlighted by two early kills and then three consecutive service aces from Evans. A 6-0 run late in the set had UC Merced on top 24-6. After a few Lions points, a service error ended the night as the Bobcats finished the regular season series sweep over Soka.
Up next, UC Merced will play at No. 14 Westcliff University in the 2025 regular season finale on Friday, March 28. UC Merced can clinch a share of the Cal Pac Regular Season Championship with a victory. First serve is scheduled for 6:00pm at Cypress High School in Cypress, Calif.
