IRVINE, Calif. – Inside Concordia's CU Arena for the second and final day of the Orange County Classic, Menlo Women's Volleyball stayed right with Biola initially then could not mount late comebacks against a CUI team receiving votes in the latest AVCA-Taraflex Division II Poll, falling 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-6) and 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-14) respectively.
Oaks Highlights
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Fuka Kikuchi paced Menlo with 17 kills on the day
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Ruby Santos &
Makenna Mello combined for 43 assists in the two contests
-In addition to her 14 kills across both matches,
Michelle Mlikan led the Oaks with 28 digs
Back-And-Forth First Sets Swing To Biola
From a 12-12 tie, the opening set shifted in the Eagles' favor 9-3 and, though senior outside hitter
Fuka Kikuchi and sophomore middle blocker
Saarika Gunapu combined on a block to cut the margin to three points, Biola finished off the win 25-18.
Back-to-back kills from junior outside hitter
Michelle Mlikan powered a 5-1 start to the second frame where the Oaks soon held an 11-5 advantage. In a sudden change of momentum, however, BU scored 15 of the next 19 points and the set was then up for grabs with the teams separated by just two scores in the late stages before a 25-22 final for the Eagles. Up 10-2 to begin the third, Biola rallied toward the eventual 25-6 result that completed their victory.
Late Rallies Push Golden Eagles In Each Frame
Concordia established a 9-3 lead out of the gate in Saturday evening's matchup, but kills from Mlikan and sophomore middle blocker/opposite
Sophia Kelso brought the Oaks right back in. Though a kill from senior setter
Shaylee Ungos gave Menlo its own advantage, a 12-5 Golden Eagles run helped earn them the 25-19 win.
After cutting a five-point margin down to two midway through the second set, the Oaks could not come any closer, dropping a 25-18 score despite being just a pair of points back at 20-18. Kelso and Kikuchi provided back-to-back kills during a brief rally that brought Menlo to within four at 14-10 in the third frame yet CUI once again made a move to secure the match on a 25-14 final.
Leading the way for Menlo throughout the week's matches, Kikuchi and Mlikan were both named to the Orange County Classic All-Tournament Team.
Up Next
The first California Collegiate Athletic Association matches are on the horizon for Menlo as another trip to Southern California pairs the Oaks with Cal State LA (Sept. 11) and Cal Poly Pomona (Sept. 12).
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