ATHERTON, CA – Following an emotional Senior Night ceremony honoring the contributions of two graduate assistant coaches, Paul Niederle and Koala Matsuoka, plus five four-year seniors, Amia Silva, Kanani Packer, Giulia Marinelli, Maya Saole-Su'e, and Janet Moala, Menlo Women's Volleyball treated its biggest crowd of the year to an exciting 3-0 (26-24, 26-24, 25-19) sweep of Hawaii Pacific in the Oaks' final match inside Haynes Prim-Pavilion this season on Friday.

Oaks Highlights
-Janet Moala's highest hitting percentage of 2025 (.526) led her to 11 kills
-Seven blocks for Maya Saole-Su'e were her highest total of the year
-Fuka Kikuchi's 16 kills and 11 digs marked her seventh double-double of the season
-Ruby Santos & Jolianna Salazar combined for 34 assists
-Emily Licon posted a match-high 17 digs

All Five Seniors Contribute To Menlo's Decisive Win
Though Hawaii Pacific led for much of the opening set, holding a five-point lead in the late stages and holding set point at 24-20, the Oaks resiliently fought back. Senior middle blocker Janet Moala was heavily involved in the four consecutive scores that retied the set 24-24, sending down three kills while joining freshman setter Jolianna Salazar for a block assist. In the end, Menlo shocked the Sharks with what became a 6-0 surge to claim the frame 26-24.

HPU pushed another lead up 10-4 to begin the second set, but this time it was eight straight from the Oaks that dramatically shifted the momentum. While junior outside hitter Fuka Kikuchi was responsible for four kills in the run, senior middle blocker/opposite Maya Saole-Su'e was in prime form, emphatically posting two blocks alongside Salazar. Menlo added four more unanswered points shortly thereafter yet faced multiple ties until just before being down 24-23 when Kikuchi and Saole-Su'e delivered three kills in quick succession to once again end a set 26-24 in favor of the Oaks.

Another push was made with Menlo trailing 9-8 as Saole-Su'e had her fingerprints all over a 6-0 burst with two more kills and a block joined by freshman middle blocker/opposite Sophia Kelso. Now in front 14-9, the Oaks traded points until Kikuchi, Moala, and Saole-Su'e provided a flurry of kills and freshman outside hitter Dayjah McFadden soon followed that up with the last three put-aways for Menlo's 25-19 set triumph and subsequent sweep.

Up Next
In Hawaii for the remainder of the 2025 regular season, Menlo will begin a three-match road trip at UH Hilo on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. HT (9 p.m. PT).