ATHERTON, CA – Haynes-Prim Pavilion was roaring after a sweep against both Warner Pacific and Simpson University on the hot and humid Thursday. The second day of the Oak Invitational began at 11:30am for the Oaks in a quick 3-set match. The Knights were fighting injuries throughout the day and Menlo had depth to play many newcomers who showed an outstanding performance. The night ended with another 3-set match taking down the Red Hawks of Simpson where Menlo put on a show for the student section to rave about!
Amey Rainaud-Hinds is now charting the NAIA individual leader boards coming in 1st with 180 digs. The second place person has 134 digs. The sophomore Libero and Setter has become Menlo's defensive specialist and has kept the Oaks in a lot of tough rallies throughout the entire preseason. She also comes in 9th in the NAIA in Digs per set with 6.21. Rainaud has proven she is a fighter and will put her body on the line to make a play every time she steps foot on the court.
Menlo 3 - 0 Warner Pacific
The Oaks were the second match of the day in Haynes-Prim and it was already extremely hot in the gymnasium. Menlo had control of the match the entire game and set the tempo fast. Menlo went up in an 8-point run in the first set to win 25-10. From there the Knights did not have a deep enough roster to carry through the heat and injuries. It took some courageous opponents to step in the role of Setter when they were listed as Outside Hitters. Menlo pushed through the heat and was able to rotate through many substitutions in order to execute this win. Beatrice Manzon served 7 times in a row, two of them being aces, to aid in the Oaks third set domination.
11 different Oaks earned a kill against the Knights. The two kills leaders were Amia Silva (6 kills), who also contributed 2 block assists, and Ayanna Barham (6 kills), hitting at 50% and also adding 5 digs and an assist. Paige Harmann assisted the Oaks 16 times while landing a dump-set kill, 5 service aces, and 5 digs. Beatrice Manzon also set 12 assists, served 4 aces, and had 2 digs. It took perseverance to push through this match but the Oaks found a way!
Menlo 3 - 0 Simpson
It was a much more exciting match between the Red Hawks of Simpson in the evening. Simpson and Menlo were going back and forth on 4-point runs before it went back and forth towards the end. Janet Moala slammed the kill to end the set 25-20. The second set was another back and forth battle but Menlo decided the set with a block assist from Janet Moala and Giulia Marinelli, followed by a service ace from Maya Saole-Su'e. Menlo were dominant in the final set in a 9-point run with 2 kills each from Katharine Mumm and Jazmyn Tubbs. In that same sequence, Maya Saole-Su'e was part of back to back block assists, one with Tubbs and one with Mumm. The front line was fighting to end this match! Menlo ended it Oak-style with another block assist from Mumm and Saole-Su'e for the sweep.
Jazmyn Tubbs stood out with 14 digs, 6 digs, an ace, and 3 block assists. Maya Saole-Su'e continues to be a brick wall in the middle blocking 5 times with the help of teammates. She then added 3 digs, 3 aces, on top of the 6-kill performance she had on the night. Setters, Paige Harmann and Beatrice Manzon, each totaled 19 assists on the Oaks side. And another fantastic performance from Amey Rainaud-Hinds with 24 digs against the Red Hawks. Menlo now has a record of 5-3 at the end of day two of the Oak Invitational.
Up Next….
The final day of the Oak Invitational ends with two more matches featuring first, the Oaks against the Pacific Union Pioneers at 11:30am. Following the afternoon match will be an evening match against NCAA Division II foe, the Dominican Penguins at 6pm. Two more opportunities to pack the 'Prim and enjoy some Oaks Volleyball on the first week of Menlo College classes!
