MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's volleyball team fell 3-1 to Jessup University on Senior Night by set scores of 26-28, 25-23, 12-25, 19-25 Wednesday inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium. The Bobcats (4-17, 1-12) will wrap up the regular season on Friday at Jessup.
Jozef Lingenfelter led the Bobcats with a MPSF career-high ten kills and a season-high ten digs for his first double-double of the year. He also added two assists, a service ace, and a block.
Max Niederberger had a career-high tying nine kills on a .353 hitting percentage to go along with two blocks.
Mason Stokes finished with eight kills and three digs, while Joshua Woodhams had six kills and five digs.
Toby Miller recorded 28 assists, four digs, two kills, and a block.
Other notables include six digs from Joel Toves, three kills from Colin Ryan, and two kills apiece for Kaleb Cole and Anthony Alaniz.
The first set featured 24 ties and six lead changes and no team led by more than two points until back-to-back Jessup attack errors had the Bobcats ahead 17-15. UC Merced also led by two at 21-19 after a Donovan Guglielmana service ace. However, Jessup scored the next three points capped by back-to-back kills to grab a 22-21 lead. Jessup had first chance at set point up 24-23, but Woodhams answered with a kill to force extra points. Lingenfelter and Niederberger then delivered kills to stave off two more Jessup set points, but the Warriors would go on to win it 28-26.
UC Merced scored the first three points in the second set before Jessup scored four straight for an early lead change. The Bobcats trailed by as many as four points later on at 17-13. Ryan helped the Bobcats battle back with a couple kills and eventually UC Merced pulled even at 20-20 after a block from Miller and Niederberger. Tied 21-21, Lingenfelter sparked a 3-0 run with a kill and also had an assist to Stokes that put the home team up 24-21. After back-to-back Jessup points, Stokes scored set point with a kill to pull even 1-1 in the match.
The Bobcats had a quick 3-1 advantage to start the third set, though Jessup quickly changed the dynamic of the frame with a 10-3 run powered by eight kills and an ace. Jessup continued to find success, scoring five straight points later on to own a double figure lead at 19-9. Jessup would win the frame 25-12 with four consecutive kills to end it. Jessup hit .696 (16/0/23) in the set.
A stokes kill to begin the fourth set was the Bobcats only lead the rest of the way. Jessup followed with a 7-2 run and never looked back, going up by seven points at the 17-10 mark. Jessup got to 20 points while leading 20-12 and the visiting squad was serving for match point with a 24-15 advantage. Cole extended the match with a kill. Stokes and Niederberger also had one more kill before the end of the night to keep the volleyball going on Hostetler Court for the last time this year. Jessup finished the match with a block to win the set 25-19 and the match 3-1.
UC Merced will close the regular season at Jessup on Friday, April 17 at Warrior Arena in Rocklin, Calif. First serve is scheduled for 7:00pm.
