FRESNO, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team fell in straight sets to Hawai'i Hilo and Western Oregon on the final day of the Sunbird Classic on Saturday inside the Special Events Center.
Despite being swept, multiple Bobcats (0-3) posted notable statistical accomplishments.
Natalie Riley had double-figure kills in each outing and combined for 21 kills on the day, while freshman Callie Neufeld turned in a double-figure kill outing in just her third career match finishing with eleven.
Riley is the first Bobcat since Emily Romo in 2019 with double figure kills in three consecutive matches to start the season.
Kyra Miller put up 28 assists against WOU and 17 vs. UH Hilo while moving up the program record books. The senior passed both Serena Choi and Bianca Malaluan on Saturday for third all-time on UC Merced's all-time assists list with 1,357 career assists. Miller supported her quarterbacking efforts with at least two blocks and two kills in each match. She added nine digs against Western Oregon.
Jazmine Banks had ten digs in each Saturday match to become the first Bobcat since Destiny Lei Ramilo in 2023 with double-digit digs in the first three matches of the year. She also broke into UC Merced's all-time top ten list, passing Jade Fachin for tenth all-time with 583 career digs.
Other notables from Saturday include seven kills and five digs from Mariainez Lopez against WOU, three service aces and two blocks from Morgan Wilson against WOU, seven assists from Eve Dixon against Hilo, and two aces from Banks against Hilo. Wilson passed Dominique Andrews for fourth in program history with 154 career block assists.
UC Merced was never able to find consistent team success across the day and recorded a sub .100 hitting percentage both matches. UC Merced was held to just eight service aces and six blocks overall, and trailed by at least nine points at one point in five of the six sets.
The Bobcats best set start to finish on Saturday was the second set against Western Oregon, where Dr. Anitra Brockman's squad led 7-3 and was tied 15-15 midway through the frame. UC Merced was within two points at 24-22 before falling. In the third set, UC Merced erased a 15-6 and 19-14 deficit to take a 25-24 lead before surrendering three straight points to WOU.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will play four matches at the Cougar Classic hosted by Cal State San Marcos September 3-5 in San Marcos, Calif.
