Golden Eagles Show Grit in Four-Set Battle at UC Merced
Alysha Colladay
MERCED, CALIF. — Concordia University Irvine battled through adversity and showed flashes of dominance in a competitive four-set match against UC Merced on Friday night. Although the Golden Eagles came up short in a 3-1 decision (16-25, 21-25, 25-10, 22-25), the match told a deeper story—one of resilience, adjustments, and a team continuing to find its stride.
After dropping the opening two sets, CUI responded in a big way in the third. The Green and Gold completely took control, delivering a commanding 25-10 set victory. Their offense clicked at a high level while the defense shut down UC Merced's rhythm, creating one of the most dominant stretches of play in the match. It was a clear statement of the team's potential when everything is working together.
Individually, Concordia was led by standout performances on the offensive end. Troy Flemming paced the Golden Eagles with a team-high 15 kills, consistently providing a reliable scoring option throughout the match. David Mansilla delivered a career night, recording a career-high 12 kills while hitting an efficient .357, playing a key role in CUI's offensive surge.
Even early on, Concordia showed competitiveness. The second set saw the Golden Eagles improve their execution and extend rallies, keeping things close and forcing UC Merced to earn every point. That momentum carried into the fourth set, where CUI once again battled late into the frame, staying within reach before the match was decided.
While the final result didn't fall in their favor, Concordia's performance showed clear progress as they continue through the season.
UP NEXT: The Green and Gold will take on UC Merced tomorrow at 6 pm.
