In front of 100 admitted students, UC Santa Cruz won their home opener 3-0 over UC Merced 25-11, 34-32, 25-16 at the West Field House.

The Banana Slugs improved to 13-1, and ran their winning streak to 12, the second-longest in school history.

The Banana Slugs controlled the opening set from the beginning using a 10-4 run, capped by an Isabella Hoglund kill. The Banana Slugs won the first set 25-11. The second set marked UCSC's longest set, in terms of points, since 2015. The Banana Slugs and Bobcats traded points back and forth through the entire set, but it was the Banana Slugs who came out victorious 34-32. In the third set, the Banana Slugs started the set on a 14-9 run, capped by a Claire Okerlund kill, and never relinquished the lead. The Banana Slugs won the third set 25-16. 

Okerlund had 15 kills to lead UC Santa Cruz. Samantha Taylor had 11. Giovanna Martins had a career-high 5 aces to go with 18 digs.

Lexus Lagumbay led the Bobcats with 11 kills along with three aces and 9 digs. Overall, UC Santa Cruz hit .286 to Merced's .153 and had 16 aces compared to 4 by the Bobcats.