FRESNO, Calif. - The Jessup Warriors women's volleyball team secured a four-set victory (21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-19) over UC Merced in a matinee performance at the Special Events Center in Fresno, leveling their early-season record at 1-1.
After a sluggish start in the opening set where the offense hit just .108, Jessup rebounded by tightening its defensive rotations and pressuring UC Merced from the service line.
Over the course of the match, the Warriors overcame their overall .121 attack percentage and hitting errors by forcing key long rallies and capitalizing on UC Merced's 27 attack errors. Â UC Merced claimed a 25-21 win in set one, but the team's relentless back-row defense provided the momentum needed to sweep the remaining three sets.
Jessup's defensive grit proved to be the ultimate difference, as the Warriors compiled 74 digs and 7 team blocks to disrupt UC Merced's attack. Senior outside
Jenna Kraft spearheaded the effort with a double-double, matching game-high team honors with 10 kills while adding 16 digs, 2 aces, and 2 block assists.
Defensive specialist Lillian Smith anchored the back row alongside Kraft, collecting 14 digs and serving up a match-high 3 aces.
Setter
Khaycee Jamias-Cadenas posted a double-double of her own with 13 assists and 12 digs, orchestrating the offense alongside Kjersti Jacobson, who dished out 14 assists. Middle blocker
Mia Rivera also provided a strong, balanced performance, contributing 7 kills, 6 digs, 2 aces, and a match-leading 4 block assists.
Head Coach Taylor Jacky praised the squad's resilience after fighting back from the set-one deficit. "I loved the way our team responded after dropping that first set," Coach Jacky said. The win showcased the team's growing confidence in high-pressure moments, a mindset the coaching staff has emphasized early in the season. "It's great to see the team buying in to me and Coach Haley's philosophy to play fearless," Jacky noted following the match. "It paid off for us in tied moments on the service line getting aces and in our offense taking big swings at big moments."
Following the win, the Warriors continue play at the Sunbird Classic in Fresno, with a Saturday doubleheader on August 29, 2026. Jessup will first face off against former PacWest rival Menlo College at 10:00 AM at the Special Events Center, followed by an afternoon match against Stanislaus State University at 2:00 PM.
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About Jessup University Athletics Jessup University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).
