Nov. 25, 2005

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific Tigers women's volleyball team dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 match to Sacramento State on Friday, Nov. 25 in the opening round of the 27th Annual Bankers Classic.

Game scores for the match were, 30-24, 23-30, 30-20, 23-30, 16-14.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 16-13 on the season, while Sacramento State moved to 26-7 on the season. The Hornets have won 16 consecutive matches.

After dropping the first game, 30-24, the Tigers evened the match at 1-1 with a 30-23 victory in game two. Pacific got back into the match due in large part to their defense as the Tigers forced Sacramento State in 10 errors in the second game. Pacific held the Hornets to a .035 hitting percentage, while the Tigers slammed down 14 kills and committed just four errors on 48 attacks for a .208 hitting percentage. Tied at 22-22 in game two, the Tigers scored seven consecutive points on three kills from senior Ashley Groothuis (Aurora, Neb.), one kill from senior Susan Drollinger (Lake Arrowhead, Calif.) and three Sacramento State errors.

Following the break, the Hornets delivered their best hitting performance of the night as Sacramento State committed just one error, while totaling 18 kills on 57 swings for a .486 percentage. The Hornets took game three 30-20.

Pacific once again turned up the defense in game four, forcing nine Sacramento State errors. The Tigers also used a well timed run to take control of game four. Trailing 13-12, the Tigers scored five consecutive points on three Hornet errors and two kills from Pacific senior Sidney Bennett (Louisville, Ky.). Staked to a 17-13 lead, Pacific kept the Hornets at bay the rest of the game to force a fifth game with a 30-23 win.

Sacramento State took an early 6-2 edge in the fifth and final game and held a 14-11 lead late. The Tigers, however, refused to go quietly as Groothuis, Drollinger and sophomore Kara Uhl (Cypress, Calif.) hammered home three straight kills to tie the game at 14-14. Sacramento State, unfortunately, answered with back-to-back points to take the match.

Groothuis led the Tigers with a match-high 25 kills, while Uhl finished with 16 kills and Drollinger had 10 kills.

Sacramento State got 19 kills from Atlee Hubbard and 18 kills from Lindsay Haupt in the victory.

In the opening match of the 27th Annual Bankers Classic, No. 20 Ohio defeated Saint Mary's, 3-1. The Bobcats moved to 30-2 with the win, while the Gaels dropped to 18-9. Game scores for the match were 30-26, 30-20, 25-30, 30-27.

Pacific will conclude its regular season tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. as the Tigers take on Saint Mary's. The championship match of the 27th Annual Bankers Classic will feature Sacramento State and No. 20 Ohio at 7 p.m.