Nov. 25, 2006
Pacific vs. Houston Box Score
Portland State vs. San Francisco Box Score
STOCKTON, Calif. - Sophomore Alexa Anderson pounded a career-high 35 kills to lead the Pacific women's volleyball team to a four-game victory over Houston in the consolation match of the Community Bankers Classic on Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
With the win, Pacific concluded its 2006 campaign with an 8-21 overall record, while Houston moved to 19-17 on the season.
Game scores were 27-30, 33-31, 33-31, and 30-21.
Game one saw the Houston Cougars hit the court on fire as the Cougars connected for 23 kills and committed just one error on 42 attempts for a .524 hitting percentage. Despite the gaudy number put up by Houston, Pacific forced 14 ties in the first game as the Tigers hit .333 (19 kills and four errors on 45 swings). The final tie of the first game came at 21-21. Houston scored the next four points to take control of game one and went on to earn a 30-27 win in game one.
The second game between the Cougars and Tigers could be characterized only as a battle of wills. The two teams fought through 22 ties and six lead changes. Trailing 24-21, the Tigers pulled even with three straight points on a kill from junior Johanna Hilbers (Omaha, Neb.), then forced back-to-back attack errors by the Cougars. The game toggled back and forth as the Tigers foiled three chances for Houston to take a 2-0 lead. With the Cougars leading 31-30, Pacific pulled even for the final time on another kill by Hilbers. Following a Houston attack error, Pacific capitalized on their first chance to take the match, behind a kill from Anderson to win game two, 33-31.
Pacific staged its most dramatic single-game comeback of the year in game number three as the Tigers battled back from a 29-25 deficit to take the game 33-31. Staring a 2-1 deficit in the face, Pacific called on Anderson to rally her team. She did exactly that, with two kills surrounding a solo block to pull Pacific within a point at 29-28. Following a Houston timeout, freshman Meagan MimMack (Upland, Calif.) tied the game at 29-29, with a solo block of Houston's Kelly McAnelly. Moments later with the game tied 31-31 the Tigers concluded their improbable run with back-to-back kills by Anderson and Hilbers to take a two games to one lead.
The momentum of the Pacific victory in game three carried well into game four as the Tigers exploded out of the gate to build a 19-5 lead. Pacific went on to take the match with a 30-21 game four win.
In addition to her match-high 35 kills, Anderson finished off her 11th double-double of the season with 11 digs. Two other players finished in double figures in kills as Hilbers had 18 kills and MimMack finished with 13 kills. Pacific junior Julie Magud (Stockton, Calif.) led the Tigers with a team-high 18 digs.
Justine Farmer led the Cougars with 28 kills and 25 digs in the match, while McAnelly had 20 kills and Becca Sartori finished with 19 kills.
Portland State (21-7) rallied from a 14-9 deficit in the fifth game of the championship match to win the game, 17-15, en route to the team title. Game scores were 27-30, 30-22, 30-25, 25-30, and 17-15. With the loss, San Francisco fell to 23-10. Jessica Brodie led Portland State with a match-high 36 kills.
Following the championship match, Brodie was named the Community Bankers Classic Tournament MVP. Nique Fradella (Portland State), Alix Gombos (San Francisco), Jessica Frederick (Portland State), Justine Farmer (Houston), Alexa Anderson (Pacific), and Julie Magud (Pacific) were selected to the All-Tournament Team.
