ATHERTON, Calif. – Carrying tremendous momentum from a thrilling comeback the night before, Menlo Women's Volleyball impressively fought off multiple set points to push past No. 4 Fresno Pacific in the first set of what became a California Collegiate Athletic Association faceoff that saw the two sides match kills and nearly do the same in assists and digs all before the Sunbirds managed to prevail 3-1 (24-26, 25-15, 25-20, 26-24) inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion on Saturday.
Oaks Highlights
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Fuka Kikuchi put down 22 kills to give her 79 in her last four matches
-A season-high 29 assists for
Makenna Mello were just two more than the 27 from
Ruby Santos
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Dayjah McFadden finished just one kill shy of her career high with 17
-The 15 digs for
Michelle Mlikan marked her 10th time in double figures this season
Menlo's Set Win Comes Against Highest Ranked Team In NCAA DII Era
Going point for point in the first half of the opening set, Menlo took charge after trailing 14-12 with back-to-back kills from senior outside hitter
Fuka Kikuchi then three off the hand of sophomore outside hitter
Dayjah McFadden as the Oaks assumed a lead after the 6-2 surge. Rarely in such a position, Fresno Pacific began to rally back only to be met with three kills sent down by junior outside hitter
Michelle Mlikan and Kikuchi. Then six unanswered points suddenly had FPU on the verge of a win at 24-22, but an unreal set by Kikuchi then saw her deliver kills seven through nine of the frame along as Haynes-Prim Pavilion erupted on the 26-24 victory.
The two sides remained close 15 points into the second set, but the Sunbirds used an 11-4 burst to create separation and eventually even the match with a 25-15 result. A pair of 5-0 runs early in the third frame pushed the visitors to a lead yet Kikuchi, McFadden, and sophomore middle blocker/opposite
Sophia Kelso each offered kills during a 3-0 response and the margin was cut down to four in the later stages. The Oaks fended off three set points before conceding the 25-20 win with the fourth frame on the horizon.
Up 6-4 with four different Menlo competitors logging kills to begin the fourth, the Oaks then countered FPU's 7-1 push with their own 6-1 surge that featured two kills by sophomore outside hitter/opposite
Kate Ross and another pair from Kikuchi for the 15-13 advantage. The two teams would go on to exchange six-point runs thereafter, settling with Ross' kill forcing set point at 24-22, but a resilient Fresno Pacific team had the final answer after five of the last six points in a 26-24 comeback.
Up Next
Back in Southern California in the week ahead, the Oaks now prepare to match up with Cal State San Marcos (Oct. 9) and Cal State San Bernardino (Oct. 10).
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