FRESNO, Calif. – Going the distance in both matches on the first day of the 2026 season, Menlo Women's Volleyball found themselves mere points away from victories on each occasion as Hawaii Hilo eked out a 3-2 (24-26, 25-18, 25-19, 24-26, 15-13) win then Western Oregon had just enough left for the 3-2 (25-12, 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 15-11) result during Fresno Pacific's Sunbird Classic inside the Special Events Center on Friday.
Oaks Highlights
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Fuka Kikuchi tied her second-highest kill total (21) since joining Menlo versus Hilo then
Dayjah McFadden led the Oaks with 14 kills against WOU
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Ruby Santos dealt out 55 assists in the two matches combined
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Michelle Mlikan collected 21 digs in the first contest then
Emily Licon added 20 in the finale
Menlo Rallies Back To Within Two Points Of Season-Opening Victory
Though the Vulcans led by as many as eight points in the opening set, a 10-2 run that featured three of senior outside hitter
Fuka Kikuchi's six kills in the frame had Menlo back tied at 19-19. Hawaii Hilo threatened with four of the next five scores, but the final five points belonged to the Oaks as senior libero
Emily Licon provided the exclamation mark on a 26-24 set victory with a service ace.
The two sets that followed went the Vulcans' way as a 6-0 run created early separation in the second before five unanswered points made for a late Menlo comeback. The 25-18 final was nearly replicated in a third frame that had a trio Kikuchi kills keep her side within striking distance before the 25-19 result.
Kikuchi struck again down the stretch in the fourth where senior setter
Ruby Santos assisted her outside hitter for back-to-back points during a 4-0 run to take a 22-20 lead. The Vulcans were on the verge of a win at 24-24 thereafter, but sophomore middle blocker/opposite
Sophia Kelso swung for a clutch kill to push the Oaks to their 26-24 win.
Though the sides were tied 8-8 to begin the decisive fifth frame, a 6-2 surge by Hawaii Hilo put the pressure on. Menlo fended off three consecutive match points with kills by Kikuchi and Kelso as well as a block solo by the latter yet the Vulcans managed one last point for the 15-13 victory.
Oaks Nearly Complete The Comeback
Seven straight points by Western Oregon in the early going of a significantly-delayed start to the Oaks' second match had the Wolves in control for the 25-12 ending score, but Menlo bounced right back in the second frame. A 10-5 run that featured kills by seven different Oaks was capped by senior setter
Shaylee Ungos' putaway then the Oaks rolled from a 19-19 deadlock with another diversified attack featuring Kikuchi, Kelso, sophomore outside hitter
Dayjah McFadden, and ultimately junior outside hitter
Michelle Mlikan at 25-21.
Like the opening frame, WOU built a 14-6 lead to begin the third and managed to outlast Menlo 25-17 for the set advantage. It was then the Oaks' turn to respond as consecutive block assists by McFadden and Kelso highlighted a 10-2 surge that propelled Menlo to a match-evening 25-20 win punctuated by McFadden's 12th kill of the contest.
The momentum carried into the fifth set with an initial 3-0 lead pushing to 7-4 on the strength of kills by McFadden and Mlikan. That margin, however, gave way to a 7-2 answer by the Wolves then, after briefly trading points, Western Oregon closed out the 15-11 final with the last three points.
Up Next
One more match remains for Menlo in the Sunbird Classic as the Oaks face another former PacWest opponent in Jessup tomorrow at 10 a.m.
