Warriors Handle UC Merced in Four Sets at Home
TURLOCK, Calif.--- The Stanislaus State volleyball team continued its strong play at home Thursday night, rallying after a slow start to earn a 3–1 victory (25–27, 25–18, 25–13, 25–18) over UC Merced in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action at Fitzpatrick Arena. The Warriors dominated the final three sets with a balanced offensive effort and one of their best blocking performances of the season to secure their sixth CCAA win. The Warriors (8–8, 6–3 CCAA) bounced back strong after dropping the opening set, dominating the next three behind efficient hitting and balanced production across the roster. Stan State hit .275 as a team while holding UC Merced (5-13, 4-5 CCAA) to just .113.
Christallynn Tate led the way with 16 kills on .464 hitting, and Emily Meyer added 12 kills and 10 digs for her first double-double of the season. Shaelyn Pruiett filled the stat sheet with 19 assists, 19 digs, and 4 service aces for her fourth double-double of the year and sixth of her career. Fallon Freeman chipped in 9 kills and 3 blocks, and the Warriors out-blocked the Bobcats 13–5 on the night.
Set-by-Set Recap
Set 1 — UC Merced 27, Stan State 25
The Warriors traded points throughout the opening frame with 12 ties before UC Merced edged it out late, 27–25. Fallon Freeman and Emily Meyer each put down key kills to keep it close, but the Bobcats capitalized on back-to-back Stan State errors to steal the set.
Set 2 — Stan State 25, UC Merced 18
Stanislaus found its rhythm behind Shaelyn Pruiett's steady serving and setting. The Warriors hit .290 with 11 kills and four blocks, including two from Lauren Hamilton, to even the match at 1–1.
Set 3 — Stan State 25, UC Merced 13
The Warriors took control early and never looked back, holding the Bobcats to .158 hitting while posting a .483 attack percentage. Tate and Meyer combined for 10 kills in the frame as Stan State rolled to a 25–13 win.
Set 4 — Stan State 25, UC Merced 18
A balanced attack sealed the win, with six different Warriors recording a kill. Pruiett added another ace, and the team closed on a 9–4 run punctuated by a Christallynn Tate finish to secure the four-set victory.
Warrior Notables
- Christallynn Tate: 16 kills, .464 hitting, 3 blocks
- Emily Meyer: 12 kills, 10 digs, first double-double of the season
- Shaelyn Pruiett: 19 assists, 19 digs, 4 aces, fourth double-double of the year and sixth of her career
- Fallon Freeman: 9 kills, 3 blocks
- Lauren Hamilton: 7 kills, 7 blocks, .636 hitting
- Team hitting: .275 (53 kills, 17 errors, 131 attempts)
- Team blocks: 13 (season high)
Next up: The Warriors begin a three-match road trip Saturday (Oct. 18) at Chico State, with first serve scheduled for 5 p.m. The Wildcats swept Cal Poly Humboldt in three sets Thursday night in Arcata. Stanislaus won the first meeting between the teams earlier this season in Turlock. The Warriors will return home on Thursday, Oct. 31, to host Cal Poly Pomona at 5 p.m. in Fitzpatrick Arena.
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