HAYWARD, Calif. – Just one point separated Menlo Women's Volleyball and Cal State East Bay late in the first set, three points were the difference toward the end of the second set, and both teams were tied at 21-21 in the third before, on each occasion, the Pioneers made final moves to secure the 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-22) California Collegiate Athletic Association victory on Saturday night inside Pioneer Gym.
Oaks Highlights
-The team-high 12 kills for
Fuka Kikuchi marked her 16th time in double figures this year
-With 15 and 14 assists respectively,
Makenna Mello and
Ruby Santos
-Mello and
Michelle Mlikan shared the team lead with 11 digs apiece
Nine Different Oaks Record Digs In Back-And-Forth Contest
Though CSUEB led 10-5 to open the first set, Menlo used an 8-4 run to rally back with sophomore outside hitter
Dayjah McFadden providing three kills. The margin was just a single point at 16-15 following an ace from sophomore middle blocker/opposite
Sophia Kelso, but a 5-0 run by the Pioneers guided their eventual 25-18 victory.
Junior outside hitter
Michelle Mlikan put down two kills during a 4-1 burst midway through the second set that cut Cal State East Bay's lead to two and, while the home team went on an 8-3 run to gain separation, Menlo quickly initiated a comeback after McFadden's kill. The gap was shortened to three points at 23-20, however, before the final two scores put CSUEB over the top 25-20.
Following a 5-1 start to the third set in which McFadden and Kelso combined for a strong block, the Pioneers rebutted with a 10-3 push. Then, senior outside hitter
Fuka Kikuchi's three kills highlighted a 6-2 surge late in the frame, forcing a 21-21 deadlock, but Cal State East Bay made one last push to end the night up 25-22.
Up Next
Menlo will visit Cal State Monterey Bay for the Oaks' last match of the regular season on Nov. 7.
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