ATHERTON, CA – Women's Volleyball is back in Atherton in Menlo College's very own Haynes-Prim Pavilion for the first time in the 2023 season to host the Oak Invitational. On Wednesday, the Oaks started the day with a morning victory against the UC Merced Bobcats where they won, 3-1. Then in the evening, Menlo faced off Southern Oregon for the second time this preseason. Despite losing to the #20 ranked Raiders, the Oaks showed some great moments and will have a quick turnaround as they play again tomorrow at 11:30am against Warner Pacific!
Menlo 3 - 1 UC Merced
The Bobcats took the first set after a 7-point run late in the set, by a score of 15-25. The Oaks responded fiercely to take the last 3 sets of the match. In the second set, Giulia Marinelli single-handedly brought the Oaks back from behind by landing 5 kills against the Bobcats to win 25-21. The third set was back and forth but another kill from Marinelli sealed a 25-18 set win. It was an all-out brawl in the final set as UC Merced was fighting to stay alive. They were able to push the score to 28-27. Ayanna Barham decided the match with a kill assisted by Paige Harmann to take the first victory in Haynes-Prim, 3-1!
A team comparison between both squads show a pretty even match, with an exception of Menlo tallying 9 blocks compared to UC Merced with 2. Giulia Marinelli ran the show offensively with 15 kills and hitting at 46%. She also added a dig and a block assist for the Oaks. On the defensive side, Amey Rainaud-Hinds continues to dominate as she dug out 34 of Menlo's 77 total digs, while also adding 2 aces, and 9 assists. Janet Moala led in blocks with 5 while Katharine Mumm, Maya Saole-Sue, and Ayanna Barham had 2 blocks each. Menlo's top setters were Beatrice Manzon (19 assists) and Paige Harmann (18 assists) who combined for over 75% of their overall assists.
Menlo 0 - 3 Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon was warm after their victory over UC Merced just before the 7pm match. The Raiders took the first set 15-25, but ended with two Jazmyn Tubbs kills to continue to fight for the Oaks in the end. The second set was a similar start, but by the end of set two Menlo was back in it after a block party held by Maya Saole-Su'e, Amia Silva, and Jazmyn Tubbs, who all were part of block assists on back-to-back plays. Southern Oregon still found a way to take over by a score of 22-25. In the end, Southern Oregon was able to end it in three by a score of 20-25. It was much more back and forth in the end, Tubbs still attacking hard and landed 6 of her 14 kills of the night in that last set.
Menlo's leaders continue to be Jazmyn Tubbs with 14 kills, 2 blocks, one being a solo block, and 5 digs. Maya Saole-Sue also left everything on the court with 7 kills, 2 assists, a solo block, a block assist, and a dig. Amey Rainaud-Hinds added 15 digs on defense as well as an ace. Junior Captain Paige Harmann assisted 15 kills against the Raiders while also fighting for 4 digs, an ace, and her famous Harmann dump to get a kill. Beatrice Manzon was also a part of 18 assists. All in all, Menlo put up a great fighting chance and the volleyball level will only continue to grow and sharpen as we get closer to conference play!
Up Next….
Day 2 of the Oak Invitational starts tomorrow, Thursday, August 24 at 11:30am for Menlo where they will be taking on Warner Pacific. Then, at 7pm the Oaks will be facing another Cascade Collegiate Conference foe, the Red Hawks of Simpson University. It will be another great opportunity to Pack the 'Prim!
