ATHERTON, Calif. – Furthering their reputation of never being counted out, Menlo Women's Volleyball dropped behind UC Merced two sets into Friday night's California Collegiate Athletic Association contest, but channeling the energy of their Dig Pink crowd, steadily rallied back toward the eventual 3-2 (18-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19, 15-7) triumph.
Oaks Highlights
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Faith Oller finished with a career-high 30 digs
-The 15-kill, 11-dig double-double was
Fuka Kikuchi's sixth of the season
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Ruby Santos added her own double-double with 26 assists and a season-best 14 digs
-12 kills apiece were delivered by
Dayjah McFadden and
Michelle Mlikan, the latter of whom contributed 14 digs
-In addition to a season-high four service aces,
Makenna Mello collected 19 assists
Menlo's 96 Digs Mark The Most In Three Seasons
The opening set saw the Bobcats make their move from trailing 9-6, using an 8-2 run to assume a lead they would not give up. With a 25-18 set win in hand, the Bobcats then took the first five points of the second frame and, though they never trailed, Menlo nearly completed an impressive comeback, rattling off five of six points including two kills by sophomore outside hitter
Dayjah McFadden before UC Merced eked out the 25-23 victory.
McFadden and junior outside hitter
Michelle Mlikan each delivered multiple kills during the Oaks' 9-3 start to the third set which continued to have the home team in front on the strength of five putaways from senior outside hitter
Fuka Kikuchi. A reversal of roles was then found in UCM's late rally to cut the deficit to one at 22-21, but an emphatic counter from Menlo took the form of Mlikan's kill, a block combining junior middle blocker
Avery Krebill and sophomore outside hitter/opposite
Kate Ross, and ultimately a service ace by freshman setter
Makenna Mello at 25-21. The set featured 23 digs with 11 coming from senior libero
Faith Oller who bettered her career high by six with 30 digs on the night.
A pair of kills by Krebill sandwiched her block next to McFadden as the fourth set shifted into the Oaks' favor midway through then six unanswered points elevated Menlo to a 20-15 lead with Mlikan posting a block solo as well as a service ace in the surge ahead. That momentum swing not only worked toward the 25-19 set win, but helped the Oaks secure five of the fifth frame's first seven points including four kills by Kikuchi. Up 8-6, Menlo closed out their third consecutive home victory on a 7-1 run highlighted by two kills from Mlikan plus two of her own service aces, finishing with the Oaks on top 15-7.
Up Next
Matching up with No. 4 Fresno Pacific tomorrow at 5 p.m. inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion, Menlo will begin its month-long canned food drive.
