FRESNO, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team earned a 3-1 win over Menlo College on Saturday morning at the Sunbird Classic. The Bobcats played three matches overall over the weekend. Aside from the victory, UC Merced fell in straight sets to Westmont and Fresno Pacific.
September 5 vs. Westmont | L, 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 30-28)
September 6 vs. Menlo | W, 3-1 (29-27, 25-15, 18-25, 25-19)
September 6 vs. Fresno Pacific | L, 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-20)
The Bobcats (1-2) were led by Morgan Wilson & Sera Riley throughout the first weekend of UC Merced's NCAA Division II era.
Wilson averaged 2.6 kills per set on a .500 hitting percentage. She had at least eight kills and hit .421 in each match, including hitting .667 with eight kills in the victory over Menlo. She also had two blocks, one solo against Menlo.
Following her All-American season in the NAIA, Riley opened the 2025 campaign with a double-double with 17 digs and ten kills against Westmont. She followed that showing with 12 digs against Menlo and ended the weekend averaging 3.67 digs per set and 2.2 kills per set. Her 20 total kills moved her ahead of Jaysonna Johnson and Valeria Martinez for fourth all-time in program history with 674 career kills.
Fresno native Kyra Miller recorded 5.4 assists per set, 2.5 D/S, 1.4 K/S, and 0.3 service aces per set while playing in her hometown. She tallied a double-double with 23 assists and 12 digs in the victory over Menlo. It was the fourth double-double in her career.
Jazmine Banks was good for 3.2 digs per set and registered a three-set career-high 13 digs in the opener against Westmont.
Many Bobcats set career-high's vs. Menlo. Yahaira Vazquez had nine kills hitting .304, Kylah Guzman had eight kills and four service aces, Kaitlyn Anderson delivered three service aces, and Ayana Ruffin smacked five kills.
Other notables include 2.78 A/S and 0.89 D/S for Ellie Gordon and three total solo blocks for Ruffin.
UC Merced's win over Menlo College marked the second straight year knocking off the former NAIA member during opening weekend. The Bobcats got it done on Saturday behind a .271 hitting percentage and eleven service aces. In the first set, UC Merced led 24-21 but then found themselves having to stave off set points trailing 25-24 and 26-25. Wilson and Guzman proved big in the clutch as the Bobcats ultimately got it done 29-27. UC Merced took over the second set scoring nine straight points as part of a 13-1 run overall. The Bobcats biggest lead in the frame was ten points. Menlo slowly extended its lead in the third set to win the frame and avoid the sweep. Though it was tied on four occasions in the fourth set, the Bobcats never trailed and created late separation with a 5-0 run to go up 20-15. Soon after, Natalie Riley delivered her first career match point with a kill down the line.
The Bobcats were unable to operate at a high hitting percentage in the losses. Against Westmont, the Bobcats showed defensive resilience and slowed Westmont down as the match went on. Westmont hit .538 in the opening frame but never more than .211 the rest of the way. Down 2-0 in the match, UC Merced trailed 20-17 in the third frame and battled back to take a 25-24 lead with the help of Wilson. The Bobcats also led 26-25 and 27-26 before eventually falling 30-28.
Giselle Henley, Jourdyn Ozeta-Banks, and N. Riley made their collegiate debuts over the weekend.
Up next, UC Merced will host Jessup for the 2025 home opener on Monday, September 8. First serve is scheduled for 6:00pm.
