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UC Merced Wins Cal Pac Tournament, Earns NAIA Bid
Posted: Nov 17, 2024

UC Merced Wins Cal Pac Tournament, Earns NAIA Bid

UC Merced overcame a thrilling second set loss and swept the final two matches to defeast Simpson in the title match of the California Pacific Conference Championship at La Sierra in Riverside, Calif.  The four-set victory propels the Bobcats (20-7) into their first NAIA National Championship berth.  The national tournament begins this Saturday, Nov. 23, at sites to be determined.  The final rounds of the NAIA tournament will be played at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Box Score

UCM, the Cal Pac regular season and tournament champion, won the opening set against the Red Hawks 25-20, but SU responded with a strong start in the second set, building a lead of as many as nine points at 19-10.  But the Bobcats combined a reenergized offense with some Red Hawk attack errors to erase that deficit and even the score at 24-24.  SU went on to win the gripping battle, 34-32, but the momentum swung back to the Bobcats who took the next two sets. 

UCM's Sera Riley, the Cal Pac Player of the Year, and Kennedi Baker each delivered 15 kills in the match, and conference Attacker of the Year Alexa Ultreras contributed 13 kills to power the Bobcat offense.  Directing that attack were setters Ellie Gordon and Kyra Miller, who distributed 31 and 17 assists, respectively.  Defensively, Morgan Wilson totaled seven blocks with Miller, Baker, and Semiramis Tanasescu adding four apiece, and Ultreras led four players with double digit digs with 20.

SU (17-14) completed a program-best season with record overall and conference wins.  In the finale, Mallory Swenson led the Red Hawks with 15 kills, hitting at an impressive .361 clip, while Katie Graham knocked down 14 kills with a .355 percentage.  Abigail Shackelford and Mackenzie Tataryn guided the offensive attack, dishing out 22 and 17 assists, respectively.  Madison Kammuller led the defensive effort with 16 digs, and Shackelford and Mariah Napoleon each contributed 12.  Graham totaled six blocks in the match.

 

CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

At La Sierra | Riverside, Calif.

Friday, Nov. 15

Semifinals

#1 UC Merced 3, #4 Providence Christian 0

#2 Simpson 3, #3 La Sierra 2

Saturday, Nov. 16

Championship

#1 UC Merced 3, #2 Simpson 1

 

NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, Nov. 23

Opening Round

At sites to be determined

 

At Tyson Events Center | Sioux City, Iowa

Dec. 4-6

Pool Play

 

Dec. 7-9

Bracket Play

 

Dec. 10

NAIA Championship