COSTA MESA, CA – Facing Vanguard in the first of what will be two matchups this season, Menlo Women's Volleyball could not complete comebacks in the last two sets, dropping a 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 26-24) non-Pacific West Conference decision to the Lions on Friday inside Freed Center.

Oaks Highlights
-Fuka Kikuchi paced Menlo with 12 kills, marking her fourth time in double figures in 2025
-Logging double-digit assists for the sixth occasion, Ruby Santos finished with 15 on the night
-With four blocks on Friday, Maya Saole-Su'e has posted nine in her last two matches
 
Second, Third Sets Turn Late
After a 10-4 start to the match by Vanguard, freshman outside hitter Dayjah McFadden and senior outside hitter/opposite Giulia Marinelli provided kills down the stretch, but could not overcome the eventual 25-12 result favoring the Lions. An 11-11 tie in the second frame shifted slightly toward the home team with their 5-2 run and, though Menlo remained within striking distance, the ending 25-19 score put Vanguard in front 2-0.

Ahead 12-8 on the strength of four consecutive kills, three by junior outside hitter Fuka Kikuchi, the Oaks found themselves knotted with the Lions at 15-15. Senior middle blocker/opposite Maya Saole-Su'e had a significant hand in four of the next five straight points, dropping two kills, adding one assist, and combining for a block to help put her team in front 20-15. Vanguard, however, would rally back and force four ties, the last of which was broken on a kill and a block for the 26-24 match point.

Up Next
One more conference match remains on Menlo's Southern California road trip as a 7 p.m. first serve versus Westmont comes tomorrow in Santa Barbara.