ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Siena Heights men's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 non-conference contest to UC-Merced (Calif.), on Wednesday. Set scores were 17-25, 16-25, 25-17 and 20-25 in the senior night match.
SHU (12-9) took the lead early in the first set, 7-4. The Bobcats quickly took over with a five-point run to lead 9-7, holding on through the remainder of the set.
After a close start in the second set, SHU led 7-6. UC-Merced (12-9) took the lead 10-7 off of a four pooint streak and never looked back.
The Saints found life in the third set, again taking an early lead ,8-4, but holding on for the remainder of the game for a 25-17 win.
In the final set Siena Heights kept it close the entire set, only letting the Bobcats up by five points, but it wasn't enough as the Saints dropped set four 25-20 to end the match.
Leading the Saints with 17 and 15 kills was Matthew Dugan and Tyler Hubbard-Neil, respectively. Dugan also added 10 digs while libero Emilier DeJesus ended the night with 11 digs. Keegan Crawford earned 36 assists for SHU and seven digs.
Four different Bobcats managed double-digit kills: Cole Smith (13), Jacob Shelton (12), Samuel Hala'ufia (10) and Tyler Cobian (10). Matt Pelfini earned 44 assists for UCM. Ben Nelson and Smith led UC-Merced with 12 digs each.
Next up, the Saints take on crosstown rival Adrian in a 4 p.m. conference, on Thursday.