MERCED, Calif. – Kyra Miller recorded a triple-double as the University of California, Merced women's volleyball team fell in five sets to Jessup on Monday night in the 2025 home opener, 3-2 (23-25, 8-25, 25-19, 28-26, 15-12).
The Bobcats (1-3) were serving for match point twice in the fourth set.
Miller, just the second Bobcat in program history to record a triple-double, tallied 28 assists, a career-high 13 kills, and 13 digs. She joins the elite triple-double company with former Bobcat Serena Choi. Miller also maintained a .304 hitting percentage and added three blocks.
Morgan Wilson posted a career-high 13 kills on a .480 hitting percentage to go along with four blocks, one solo. Monday night marked her fourth consecutive match to start the year hitting .420 or better with at least eight kills.
Yahaira Vazquez smacked a career-high 12 kills and hit .417 for the match.
Sera Riley led the Bobcats in digs with 15 while also recording five kills, two blocks, and a service ace.
Taylor Crayne collected a career-high 13 digs and three service aces, while Ayana Ruffin added a career-high five kills and four blocks, one solo.
Ellie Gordon finished with 25 assists and six digs. Other notables include ten digs and two service aces from Jazmine Banks, eight kills from Kylah Guzman, and four digs in a set in Gianella "GiGi" Tijamo's collegiate debut. Faith Lee made her collegiate debut and recorded an assist.
The first set had six early lead changes before the Bobcats took the lead for good with a 3-0 spurt on three consecutive kills, putting UC Merced up 11-9. UC Merced led by a set-high three points at 19-16 but Jessup pulled even shortly after 21-21. The set was also tied at 23-23. A Jessup attack error scored the Bobcats 24th point and then Wilson followed with a kill to put the Bobcats up 1-0 in the match.
UC Merced dominated the second set in part due to operating at a .333 success rate and limiting Jessup to a -.091 mark. After trading the first few points, UC Merced surged ahead with a 10-1 run capped by a Ruffin solo block. Riley had two kills and a block in the run that put the Bobcats up 13-3. Head coach Ai Prachumsri's team extended the lead to 17-5 and then reached 20 points shortly after with back-to-back-back kills, ahead 20-6. A Wilson solo block highlighted the Bobcats final five points in the 25-8 win to go up 2-0 in the match.
In the third set, the Bobcats reeled off a 7-1 run highlighted by two kills and a block from Ruffin that resulted in an 11-6 advantage. However, Jessup returned the favor with a 6-1 run to pull even again. There were four more ties before Jessup created separation and extended the match with a 9-3 set-ending run. Jessup turned in six kills in its final nine points.
Strong serving allowed the Bobcats to jump ahead to a 9-5 lead in the fourth set, including an ace from Gordon and Crayne. UC Merced's lead reached six points as early as 13-7 and it was still six points at the 18-12 mark. Jessup cut the Bobcats lead down to two points at 19-17, then pulled within a point and soon after tied the game 22-22 after a few Bobcat attack errors. Shortly after, Jessup had first crack at set point while leading 24-23. Vazquez pounded a kill and then Ruffin combined with Riley for a block to give the Bobcats a 25-24 lead. Despite having two chances to score set point, the Bobcats ultimately fell 28-26.
Looking for the reverse sweep, Jessup took control of the fifth set early on with a 5-1 lead. UC Merced won the next three rallies after a timeout to get within a point but Jessup responded with a 6-1 run to put themselves in a good position on top 11-5. UC Merced chipped away at the deficit, coming within two points at 14-12, before Jessup finished the reverse sweep with a kill to win 15-12.
Up next, UC Merced will compete at the Aloha State Showdown in Honolulu, Hawaii September 11-13. The Bobcats open the tournament against Western Washington at 3:30pm PST on September 11. Chaminade and Hawai'i Pacific are co-hosting the tournament.
