HONOLULU, Hawaii – The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team fell in straight sets to Hawai'i Hilo and Hawai'i Pacific on Friday at the Aloha State Showdown. The Bobcats drop to 1-6 on the season

VS. UH Hilo | Bobcats fell 3-0 (25-19, 25-9, 25-19)

Kyra Miller highlighted the Bobcats with nine assists, five kills, and two digs.

Sera Riley and Morgan Wilson turned in four kills and a block each. Riley also had four digs and a service ace.

Ellie Gordon finished with eleven assists, three digs, and a kill. Semiramis Tanasescu made her season debut and recorded two kills and two blocks, one solo.

Other notables include four digs and service ace from Taylor Crayne and three kills from Yahaira Vazquez.

UC Merced fell behind 5-1 in the first set before coming back to grab a 10-9 lead after a few UH Hilo attack errors. The Bobcats went up 11-9 after a Riley service ace. UH Hilo responded with a 6-1 run and the Bobcats were unable to overcome the 15-12 deficit. The Bobcats remained within striking distance trailing 20-17, but the Vulcans created the final separation with a 4-0 spurt and served for set point ahead 24-17.

UH Hilo took a commanding 11-1 lead in set two that included the Vulcans scoring eight unanswered points. The Bobcats couldn't get any closer than a nine-point deficit the rest of the frame. UH Hilo recorded a .483 hitting percentage (18/4/29) in the set while holding the Bobcats to a .05.

UH Hilo continued to power its way to victory in the third set jumping out to a 12-3 lead. Head coach Ai Prachumsri's team chipped away at the deficit to come within four points at 16-12 with the help of a strong stretch from Miller. The Bobcats were still within four points at the 20-16 mark but were unable to make the final push and dropped the 3-0 decision.

VS. HPU | Bobcats fell 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-14)

Kyra Miller led the Bobcats again with 15 assists, seven kills, seven digs, four blocks, and a service ace.

Morgan Wilson finished with nine kills on a .500 hitting percentage to go along with two blocks, one solo.

Sera Riley added seven kills, ten digs, and a solo block. Ellie Gordon gathered 13 assists, while Jazmine Banks collected ten digs.

Semiramis Tanasescu turned in five kills on nine attempts and three blocks.

Other notables include five kills from Yahaira Vazquez, six digs and two service aces for Taylor Crayne, and six digs for Gianella "GiGi" Tijamo.

Set one featured nine ties and three lead changes, but the Bobcats last lead was 7-6. Despite not leading, the Bobcats were tied with the Sharks late at 21-21 and 23-23. HPU closed out the set with back-to-back overpass kills. The Bobcats gave themselves a chance to win the set by maintaining a .345 hitting percentage.

UC Merced led 6-3 in the second set but then HPU answered with a 5-0 run to regain the lead. A little later, a Crayne solo block put the Bobcats back in front 10-9. The score was tied 12-12 midway through the set when the Sharks claimed the final lead change and sored four points in a row to go up 16-12. The Bobcats pulled within a point on three occasions but HPU held on for a 25-21 set two win.

It was all HPU in the third set and they reeled off an early 7-0 run to go up 12-3. Eleven of their 12 points were scored by a kill or a service ace. The Sharks led by double digits at 21-11 on the way to finishing off the sweep with a 25-14 victory.

UC Merced will finish play at the Aloha State Showdown against No. 24 Chaminade on Saturday, September 13 at 9:00pm PST.