ATHERTON, Calif. – Comeback complete.
Starting an exciting OAKtoberFest Weekend with a dramatic victory, Menlo Women's Volleyball rallied with a powerful home crowd inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion, outlasting Stanislaus State in a crucial fourth set then executing a thrilling late momentum shift with four straight points for the 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 17-25, 28-26, 15-13) triumph on Friday afternoon.
Oaks Highlights
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Fuka Kikuchi connected on 23 kills, adding a season-best 16 digs for her seventh double-double
-A season-high 22 kills from
Michelle Mlikan combined with 15 digs for her fifth double-double of the year
-The dynamic duo of
Makenna Mello (30 assists, 11 digs, 4 service aces) and
Ruby Santos (29 assists, 11 digs) both delivered double-doubles
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Avery Krebill posted six blocks for her second-highest total this season
-Five Oaks finished with double-digit digs including
Faith Oller who had 15
Menlo's Third Home Comeback Sealed In Dramatic Fashion
Up 12-3 to start the matinee matchup, Stanislaus State managed to weather a late 5-0 run by Menlo that included two kills from senior outside hitter
Fuka Kikuchi, ending on top 25-20. From a 12-12 tie midway through the second set, the Oaks surged in front with a 9-1 rally highlighted by offense from Kikuchi, sophomore outside hitter
Dayjah McFadden, junior outside hitter
Michelle Mlikan, and junior middle blocker
Avery Krebill. After freshman libero
Evan Leclair's service ace punctuated that push, kills by Mlikan, sophomore outside hitter/opposite
Kate Ross, and Kikuchi finished off the 25-21match-evening set.
Though Menlo led for the majority of the third frame including a 16-12 margin, the Warriors made their decisive move with a 13-1 run to swipe the 25-17 win. Stanislaus State threatened to end the contest with their 7-1 burst in the middle of the fourth set, but the ever-resilient Oaks steadily fought back, sprinkling service aces from Kikuchi and senior libero
Emily Licon with kills from sophomore middle blocker/opposite
Sophia Kelso, Ross, Krebill, Kikuchi, and Mlikan in toward the eventual 20-20 deadlock. Up against match point on three different occasions, Menlo would simply not give in. Kikuchi put away back-to-back kills assisted by freshman setter
Makenna Mello then joined Krebill for a block and, ultimately, slams by McFadden and Mlikan bookended a Kikuchi service ace to seal the 28-26 triumph.
The fifth set began in ominous fashion with the Warriors in front 8-4, but senior setter
Ruby Santos sparked another match-changing rally with a pair of service aces before McFadden and Krebill shared a clutch block to soon force the 11-11 tie. Outlasting Stan State one final time, the Oaks secured each of the final four points against a 13-11 deficit with kills from Mlikan and Ross setting up the 15-11 exclamation mark solo block by Kelso.
Up Next
OAKtoberFest Weekend continues tomorrow with the Oaks hosting Chico State at 7 p.m. back inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion.
