MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team tallied a four-set program-record 64 kills in a four-set win over Cal State San Marcos on Friday, 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 18-25, 25-22).
The Bobcats (4-5, 1-1) win was their first CCAA victory of the season.
Natalie Riley set a new career-high for the second straight match with 20 kills, highlighted by an eight-kill second set to power the Bobcats to a 2-0 match lead. Her outing also put her over the century mark for the season.
Callie Neufeld logged her third consecutive double-double with 19 kills and ten digs. Neufeld, who set a four-set career-high, maintained a .310 hitting percentage.
Morgan Wilson recorded ten kills on .471 hitting percentage, her third match this year with double figures kills and a .440 hitting percentage or better. The senior also had two service aces and two blocks.
Giselle Henley turned in a career-high seven kills and registered a solo block.
Kyra Miller put up a four-set career-high 48 assists and collected her fourth double-double of the year with 12 digs. She ran the offense to a season-high .235 hitting percentage and had two kills of her own in the Bobcats record-setting day. Miller also had a solo block and delivered her 100th career service ace.
Jazmine Banks had 24 digs, five assists, and a service ace. Banks has three 20+ dig matches this year. Banks and Wilson also moved into top ten in program history with 343 and 342 career sets played, respectively.
Other notables include eight digs and a season-high two service aces from Kaitlyn Anderson, a solo block from Yahaira Vazquez, and a service ace from Gianella "GiGi" Tijamo. Colette Ejang earned her first career start.
The Bobcats showcased their offensive talent immediately opening the match with back-to-back-to-back kills and scoring nine of their first ten points via the kill, building a 10-7 lead. UC Merced would deliver 18 kills overall in the frame in a wire-to-wire win. Head coach Dr. Anitra Brockman's team created late separation with a 4-0 spurt to go up 21-15, ultimately winning 25-19. The Bobcats hit .484 (18/3/31) in the set, while holding Cal State San Marcos to just seven kills (6 errors) on 31 attempts.
UC Merced and CSUSM traded sideouts in the second set before the Bobcats scored four straight highlighted by back-to-back Riley kills to go up 11-8. Later on, back-to-back kills from Miller and Neufeld had the Bobcats up 17-12. However, the Cougars responded with a 5-0 run to pull even and an 8-2 extended run to jump ahead 20-19. Henley pulled the Bobcats back even with a solo block before another lead change saw the Bobcats trailing 22-20. UC Merced kept battling and got three straight kills, including another one from Riley for a 23-22 lead. After a Cougar kill, Riley smacked her eighth kill of the frame to put the Bobcats at set point. UC Merced would outlast the Cougars in the frame, securing set point on a Cougar attack error.
Cal State San Marcos controlled the third set to extend the match, hitting .379 while holding the Bobcats to a .059 clip. The visitors broke a 4-4 tie and led the rest of the frame, including leading by at least four points for every rally after the 13-9 mark. Cal State San Marcos' biggest lead of the set was eight points at 24-16.
The Bobcats had to play catchup in the fourth set as the Cougars jumped out to a 9-3 lead and extended their advantage to seven points at the 13-6 mark. UC Merced garnered some momentum back after four straight kills, including three straight from Riley to pull within three. Trailing 16-12 shortly after, Riley pounded another kill that sparked a 5-0 run to put the Bobcats in front for the first time in the fourth set. Wilson capped the run with back-to-back kills. The kills kept coming, including two straight from Morgan Kristy as the Bobcats led 20-17. Tijamo's ace made it 22-19, while Miller continued quarterbacking the hot offense to get the Bobcats to set point at 24-20. Three rallies later, Riley delivered her 20th kill of the day for match point. UC Merced recorded 19 kills as a team in the final frame to finish off their four-set record 64-kill match.
UC Merced improved to 2-0 this season against Cal State San Marcos with the win.
Up next, the Bobcats will host No. 9 Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday, September 19 at 5:00pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
