CHICO, Calif. – Despite a first-set victory for Menlo Women's Volleyball, the Oaks soon found themselves in a critical battle with Chico State all even late in what became an extended third frame during Saturday's non-conference showdown. When the dust finally settled, the Wildcats managed to hold on for the 32-30 win in the set and ultimately went on to prevail 3-1 (19-25, 25-17, 32-30, 25-16) inside Acker Gym.
Oaks Highlights
-A career-high 13 kills came from
Kate Ross including five in the first set alone
-
Ruby Santos &
Makenna Mello set up their teammates with 38 assists combined
-Tying for the most by an Oak this season,
Michelle Mlikan connected on five service aces to go with her 10 kills and seven digs
-For her fifth double-double of the year,
Fuka Kikuchi finished with 15 kills and a team-high 14 digs
Season's Longest Set Takes Both Sides Into The 30's
From a 9-9 tie in the opening set, Menlo created separation with a kill by sophomore outside hitter/opposite
Kate Ross then three consecutive putaways from senior outside hitter
Fuka Kikuchi. What became a 7-1 run later turned into a 25-19 set victory highlighted by 16 kills to just three errors for a .361 hitting percentage (fourth-highest of the season) as well as three different Oaks logging three or more assists.
The second frame began with an 8-2 Wildcats run and, though Menlo responded with multiple runs to eventually cut the deficit to four on a block combining Kikuchi and sophomore middle blocker
Saarika Gunapu at 18-14, Chico State would go on to even the match with a 25-17 result.
After being knotted at 10-10 in the third set, Menlo built a 22-16 lead on the strength of kills from Kikuchi, senior setter
Shaylee Ungos, junior outside hitter
Michelle Mlikan, and Ross. The Oaks had a potential set point at 24-23, but that ended up coming during an 8-2 Wildcats rally that tied things at 24-24. The two sides combined for a total of seven possible set points in the frame as the action see-sawed with plenty of clutch saves. In the end, however, Chico State claimed the 32-30 eye-popping final and carried that momentum into the fourth set where they initially led 14-4 and fended off Menlo for the 25-16 win to close the night.
Up Next
Back inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion in the coming week, the Oaks now prepare to face UC Merced on Oct. 2 with a "Dig Pink" theme focusing on breast cancer awareness then Fresno Pacific on Oct. 3 for the kickoff to Menlo's month-long canned food drive.
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