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SU Rallies to Advance to Title Match With UCM
Posted: Nov 15, 2024

SU Rallies to Advance to Title Match With UCM

Top-seeded UC Merced registered a conventional sweep, and #2 Simpson pulled off a reverse sweep in the semifinal round of the California Pacific Conference Championship at La Sierra in Riverside, Calif.  The Bobcats blanked Providence Christian in straight sets in the opening match, and the Red Hawks dropped the first two sets to tourney host LSU before streaking back with three consecutive wins to set up a meeting between the conference's top two programs in the title match tomorrow, Nov. 16, at 7:00 at LSU.  The winner of Saturday's title game will earn the Cal Pac's one automatic bid to the National Championship, which starts on 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.

UCM is returning to the site of its last defeat—a five-set loss to LSU on Oct. 17—with the hopes of making its first trip to the NAIA National Championship since 2020.  SU, which has set program records for conference and overall wins this season, has never qualified for the national event.

#1 UC MERCED 3, #4 PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN 0 | Box Score

The Bobcats advanced to the tourney finale by holding off a determined Sea Beggar squad in three sets.  It is the fourth time this season that UCM (19-7) has defeated PCC (12-19), and the Bobcats are now 18-1 in the series history between the two programs.  UCM earned the victory with a balanced offensive attack that, as a team, finished with a .280 hitting percentage while limiting PCC to .158.  The Bobcats delivered 53 kills, topped by conference Attacker of the Year Alexa Ultreras' 16 and 13 more from Cal Pac Player of the Year Sera Riley, who had only two errors in 28 swings for a .393 hitting percentage.  The duo of Kyra Miller—another First Team All-Cal Pac honoree—and Ellie Gordon directed the offensive attack, totaling 25 and 21 assists, respectively.  Riley also added 14 digs on the defensive side while Destiny Lei Ramilo led the team with 16.  For the Sea Beggars, Jacey Loewen, a First Team All-Cal Pac pick, led the offense with 12 kills with a stellar .500 hitting percentage, but no other PCC player had more than six.  Isabella Taue'etia handed out 13 assists, and Chenelle Jones contributed 15 digs.

#2 SIMPSON 3, #3 LA SIERRA 2 | Box Score

In a closely contested five-set thriller, the Red Hawks rallied to clip the Golden Eagles and move on to the final match against UCM.  The first set established the tone of the match with LSU (12-14) coming back for a 28-26 win.  Both teams had 53 attacks, 9 attack errors, 15 assists, and SU had 17 kills to LSU's 16.  Riding the momentum for the opening set, the Golden Eagles never trailed in the second and appeared poised to sweep its way into the title match.  But SU (17-13) had a different sweep in mind.  The Red Hawks cruised to a win in the third set and, in another back-and-forth battle, pulled away from a 16-16 tie to win 25-19 and force a fifth set.  SU went up 14-11, but LSU tied with three straight points before falling 18-16.  SU had a season-high 75 kills, and Mallory Swenson led four Red Hawks with double-digit kills by knocking down 19 in the match.  Tiara Manns had 17, All-Cal Pac First Team pick Katie Graham added 15, and Mariah Napoleon finished with 14.  Abigail Shackelford handed out 35 assists while Mackenzie Tataryn contributed 26.  SU Libero Madison Kammuller, a Second Team All-Cal Pac selection, anchored the defense with 41 digs.  For the Golden Eagles, All-Cal Pac First Teamer Torri Lambert led the offensive attack with 16 kills while Kierston-Joy Kuresa, a Second Team selection, added 15.  Lindsay Delgadillo and Sophia Cardenas shared the setter duties, dishing out 29 and 20, respectively.  Two-time Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Year Ava Himstreet led the LSU defense with 24 digs.

 

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

7:00 pm - #1 UC Merced vs. #2 Simpson

 

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