FRESNO, Calif. – After coming so close twice the day prior, a special Saturday for Menlo Women's Volleyball had the Oaks deliver their first win of 2026. The Sunbird Classic inside Fresno Pacific's Special Events Center featured 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-23) victory for Menlo over Jessup with sets two through four all belonging to the Oaks.
Oaks Highlights
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Fuka Kikuchi dropped another 21 kills, giving her more than 50 in the first three matches
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Ruby Santos &
Makenna Mello combined for 39 assists
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Avery Krebill &
Sophia Kelso posted eight blocks in total
-Four Oaks collected double-digit digs
Menlo Builds Momentum With Three Consecutive Winning Sets
Tied on 17 different occasions in a tightly-played opening set, the two teams finally separated at 21-21 when Jessup managed to claim the four of the final five points for the 25-22 result. Menlo fought back in the second set with a pair of service aces from freshman libero
Evan Leclair powering a 5-0 run that gave the Oaks a lead they would not relinquish toward the 25-18 final.
With the match now even, the Warriors pushed six unanswered scores midway through the third frame but from down four points at 19-15, Menlo used a 10-1 surge to gain a set advantage as 25-20 winners thanks to a stretch with multiple kills from junior outside hitter
Michelle Mlikan and sophomore middle blocker
Saarika Gunapu.
As the action oscillated throughout most of the fourth set, the Oaks held several leads before finding themselves on the verge of match point at a 22-22 tie. From there, senior outside hitter
Fuka Kikuchi sent down a pair of kills to not only give her another 20 in as many days, but the 25-23 victory for her team.
Up Next
The Orange County Classic, another three-match tournament featuring Vanguard (Sept. 4 at 3 p.m.), Biola (Sept. 5 at noon), and Concordia (Sept. 5 at 5 p.m.), is on tap for Menlo next weekend in what will be the end of non-conference play.
