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Menlo Sweeps Three to Set Up Potential Tie with La Sierra
Posted: Nov 08, 2013

Menlo Sweeps Three to Set Up Potential Tie with La Sierra

Menlo did not lose a game all week to earn a sweep and give the Lady Oaks a shot at tying La Sierra atop the California Pacific Conference volleyball standings. The champion will be decided at the 2013 Cal Pac volleyball championships on Nov. 15-16 at UC Merced. LSU has locked up the #1 seed.

WEEK IN REVIEW:

Menlo blew past William Jessup, Simpson, and Pacific Union. Against Jessup, Nicole Yap led the team with 10 kills, Lainey Brown and a match-high 14 digs, and Kelly Sung had 24 assists to lead Menlo. WJU's Arianna Brusa had 16 assists and Molly Collins finished with 11 digs to lead the Warriors. The Simpson match was much closer than the final score indicates as the Red Hawks pushed the Lady Oaks in every game, losing each by two points. Kelly Tycksen had 31 assists, Jamie Pickett led Simpson with 21 digs, and Audrey Green finished with a match-high 19 kills. Menlo again used a balanced offensive and defensive attack to win the match. Four players registered double-digit digs, led by Yap's 25. Sung directed the offense with 43 assists, setting three players in double-digit kills: Yap (16), Courtney Calicdan (13), and Bayley Blackney (11). The PUC match was a big one for Menlo, who went on the road for the win. The Lady Oaks, now 10-1 in the Cal Pac and 16-6 overall, relied on its balanced play to earn the victory. Pacific Union, the third seed in the postseason tournament, is now 6-4 and 16-8 overall.

Pacific Union split its two matches last week, starting with a 3-1 win over William Jessup before the loss the Menlo. In the Jessup match, the Pioneer defense controlled the contest as Lauren Secchitano (33 digs), Viridiana Gallardo (24), and Sarah Cusick (18) kept everything alive and put their team on the offensive. Kalley Faust finished with 37 assists, connecting with Jenna Glantz (20 kills), Sydney Rucker (12), and Gallardo (11) to power the offense.

Embry-Riddle lost a non-conference match at UC Santa Cruz 3-0 and then fell to UC Merced 3-2. Against the Bobcats, ERAU took two of the first three games before UC Merced took control. Caroline Mack handed out 47 assists to lead the Bobcats, who got 16 kills from Kuulpolani Braceros and 10 apiece from Patricia Schellentrager and Jade Garrett. Valeria Martinez had a game-high 18 digs. Hannah Mercurio had 31 assists for the Eagles, who were led by Jordan Jones's 11 kills and 15 digs.

UC Merced went 1-1 on the week after losing to La Sierra in straight sets. The Golden Eagles dominated the match behind the steady play of the front line and senior setter Colleen Stafford. Stafford finished with 29 assists and seven digs, and Lina Semaia had 14 kills. La Sierra, 11-1 in the Cal Pac and 20-8 overall, may end up tied at the top with Menlo, but have claimed the top seed in the postseason tournament by virtue of Cal Pac tiebreaker rules.

COMING UP:

Friday, Nov. 8

Embry-Riddle at Simpson

Menlo at UC Merced

La Sierra at San Diego Christian

Saturday, Nov. 9

Embry-Riddle at William Jessup

Simpson at Pacific Union

Sunday, Nov. 10

Pacific Union at UC Merced

END OF CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE SEASON

NOTES:

  • TOURNEY TIME: The California Pacific Conference Championship Tournament will be played at UC Merced on Nov. 15 and 16. The semifinal round will be played the first day with #1 playing #4, followed by #2 going against #3. The winners of the two matches will face on Saturday with the champion earning the Cal Pac's automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament.