TURLOCK, Calif.--  Stan State improved to 5-0 with a three-match sweep of the visiting UC Merced Bobcats in the Warriors' first match of the Stan State Volleyball Tournament at Fitzpatrick Arena.  The Warriors will face Menlo College tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. in their second match of the tournament.

FIRST SET:  UC Merced (2-4) took a 7-3 lead to begin the match.  Stan State scored nine of the next fourteen points to take a 12-9 lead.  The hosts increased its lead to 22-11 on a Haley Burdo service ace.  They finished the set off on an Alex Byrd kill to take the first set 25-13.

SECOND SET:  Malia Tanksley's kill off a pass from Autumn Kirby gave the Warriors a 6-2 lead in the second set.  A Kennedi Baker kill cut the Warrior lead to 8-6.  Stan State increased its lead to 15-8 keyed by back-to-back kills by Makenna Carrillo and Tanksley.  The hosts finished the set taking ten of the final sixteen points to take the set 25-14 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

THIRD SET:  Once again, the Warriors took a commanding 7-1 lead this time in the third set keyed by two kills by Tanksley and one by Carrillo.  They took a 13-3 lead on a Devyn Nifo service ace.  An Irene London kill off a pass from Gabby Rawson increased their lead to 22-6.  Stan State took the set 25-10 capped by a Carrillo kill and a Rawson service ace to take the match 3-0. 

34 KILLS:  Stan State had 34 kills with just seven errors keyed by Malia Tanksley's nine kills.  The trio of Alex Byrd, Isabella Saucedo, and Makenna Carrillo each had five kills. 

14 TEAM BLOCKS:  The Warriors recorded three block solos with 22 block assists Autumn Kirby had seven combined kills with Alex Byrd recording six. 

UP NEXT:  Stan State will host Menlo College tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. in the second day of the Stan State Tournament.  The Warriors will finish the tournament out with two matches on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. versus Jessup and at 7:00 p.m. against Dominican.