UC Merced Magazine | Volume XIX, Issue VII

DOMINANCE

Sharvin Manjrekar finished as an All-American at the NAIA Cross Country National Championships. Additionally, men’s soccer’s Daniel Borges and women’s volleyball’s Sera Riley earned NAIA All-American distinction. UC Merced women’s soccer upset No. 15 Embry-Riddle and No. 4 Campbellsville and danced all the way into the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship Quarterfinals. Coach Roman DuChateau’s squad was UC Merced’s first program and the Cal Pac’s first women’s soccer squad to make it to the final eight. “It was an historic season and a magical run into the elite 8,” DuChateau said. “This team showed incredible desire, passion and effort all season. It was a true privilege and honor to lead this group. Watching them represent UC Merced and the entire community the way they did on a national stage will forever be one of my proudest moments as a coach.” Enter men’s water polo into the chat. On Oct. 20, UC Merced beat Long Island 20-14, marking the school’s first win over an NCAA Division I opponent in any sport. In all, it’s appropriate to say UC Merced fall sports ended an era with a bang. When next fall rolls around, UC Merced will no longer be a member of the California Pacific Conference and the NAIA.

UC Merced will compete in the CCAA as an NCAA Division II member. And in the fall of 2024, UC Merced fared well against NCAA Division II programs in nonconference play. The women’s volleyball team beat Menlo College, Chico State and Dominican. Men’s and women’s soccer knocked off Stanislaus State in exhibition games, while women’s soccer also beat Fresno Pacific and Academy of Art. The Bobcats’ unparalleled success continued into the spring. The men’s and women’s basketball won the Cal Pac Regular Season Championship with a 10-0 record and earned a bid to the NAIA National Championships. Women’s basketball also won the Cal Pac Tournament Championship, its fifth win in program history. “This was an historic semester for our program,” Executive Director of Recreation and Athletics David Dunham said. “The success of our teams is a testament to our outstanding coaching staff and student-athletes who are dedicated to success on the field and court and in the classroom. We look forward to taking this momentum forward into NCAA Division II.”

Visit UC Merced Athletics online at ucmercedbobcats.com for more information about the transition to NCAA Division II.

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