MESA, Ariz. – The University of California, Merced men's volleyball team fell in straight sets to Benedictine Mesa on Friday night, 3-0 (25-22, 38-36, 25-18).
The Bobcats (2-1) meeting was their 25th all-time against BenU Mesa, the second most frequent opponent in program history.
Kaleb Cole led the Bobcats efforts with three-set career-high's of 13 kills and nine digs. Cole, who maintained a .346 hitting percentage, also had two service aces.
Mason Stokes tallied a career-high eleven kills, a career-high six digs, and a career-high tying two service aces.
Toby Miller finished with 33 assists, three digs, two kills, and two blocks.
Daniel Del Grande had six kills without an error on 12 swings to go along with four blocks, one solo.
Jozef Lingenfelter added four digs, three kills, and two blocks, one solo.
Other notables include three kills and a block from Colin Ryan and a career-high tying six digs from Pomaikainokeakua Kahaulelio.
The Bobcats used a 4-0 spurt to take their first lead of the opening set at 6-5. Ten ties and four lead changes followed over the next 23 rallies before BenU Mesa scored three straight points to reach 20 first, ahead 20-17 with three consecutive kills. A Cole kill followed, but the Bobcats never got close enough to have a chance to tie the game or take the lead the remainder of the frame, eventually falling 25-22.
After a BenU Mesa 6-3 start in the second set, the Bobcats answered back with four straight kills to take a 7-6 lead capped by a Stokes kill. A little later, a 3-0 burst with a Stokes ace put UC Merced ahead 12-9. Lingenfelter and Del Grande combined for a block to give the Bobcats their biggest lead of the set, 15-11. The Bobcats led until BenU Mesa pulled even 18-18, but managed to take the lead back at 20-19. UC Merced reached 24 points while leading 24-22 but were unable to close out the Redhawks. BenU Mesa forced extra points at 24-24, but the Bobcats still had three more chances at set point before the Redhawks had a set point opportunity. BenU had the next three chances at set point but they followed with an error each time. It was then 30-30 and Del Grande combined with Miller for a block for another UC Merced chance. However, UC Merced missed their next five chances at set point and eventually fell 38-36, falling behind 2-0 in the match.
UC Merced first grabbed a lead in the third set at 10-9 following a kill and a service ace from Cole. The set was tied seven times before the Bobcats held an advantage. Three lead changes followed shortly after, but the Redhawks scored four straight to go up 16-13. The Bobcats pulled within a point with a Ryan kill, however that was as close the Bobcats came and BenU Mesa followed with a set-ending 8-2 run, with bursts of 5-0 and 3-0 to finish off the sweep.
UC Merced finished the match hitting .185. BenU Mesa ended with a .210 hitting percentage.
