Oct. 12, 2007

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - Despite a record setting performance from senior Julie Magud (Stockton, Calif.), the Pacific women's volleyball team raced out to a 2-0 lead, but suffered a heart breaking 3-2 loss at the hands of the Long Beach State 49ers on Friday, Oct. 12.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 10-5 on the season and 4-3 in the Big West Conference, while Long Beach State moved to 11-5 overall and 5-1 in conference play.

Game scores for the match were: 30-28, 30-26, 30-32, 22-30, 13-15.

Everything went the Tigers way before the break as Pacific took the first two games as Magud set the Pacific Career Record for digs in the middle of game two.

Pacific broke out of the gates quickly in game one as the Tigers scored nine of the first 13 points to take a 9-4 lead. Juniors Alexa Anderson (Los Gatos, Calif.) and Kara Uhl (Cypress, Calif.) ignited the Tigers with two kills each through the opening 13 points. Moments later Pacific pushed its lead to as much as eight as senior Johanna Hilbers (Omaha, Neb.) notched two kills over three points to give Pacific a 16-8 edge. Although the 49ers closed to within one point four different times during the first game, Pacific would not be denied as the Tigers took game one, 30-28, on a cross-court kill from Anderson.

Both teams posted impressing hitting totals in the first frame as Pacific finished with a .348 percentage on 22 kills and six errors on 46 attempts. Long Beach State was right behind the Tigers with 18 kills and four errors on 44 swings to post a .318 clip.

The end of game one had a lasting effect as Long Beach State senior Alexis Crimes was injured on the final play of the first game. Fortunately Crimes did return later in the match, but her absence through the opening half of game two had an impact.

Despite Crimes absence, Long Beach State got off the quick start in game two as the 49ers took a 4-1 lead. The Tigers, however, got right back in the match behind Hilbers as the senior slammed down three early kills to help Pacific pull even at 6-6. The teams traded points until the score read 9-9. The Tigers pulled ahead with a block from Anderson and sophomore Meagan MimMack (Upland, Calif.). Uhl followed with her second kill of the game to give Pacific a two-point cushion at 11-9.

Leading 13-12 a few points later, two exchanges changed Pacific history. As Long Beach State's Ashley Lee attempted to tie the game with left side attack, Magud dig her 1,661 ball to tie former Pacific great Jaime Hamm for first place on the Tigers' All-Time Digs list. Freshman Svenja Engelhardt (Sinsheim, Germany) made the most of Magud's efforts as she terminated the point off a set from junior Shannon Krug (Colorado Springs, Colo.) to give Pacific a 14-12 lead.

On the ensuing point, Magud moved into sole possession of first place as she dug an attack from 49er Naomi Washington, resulting in a kill for Uhl. In perfect timing, the 15th point for the Tigers drew a media timeout as Magud's accomplishment was announced to the 1,275 Tiger fans in attendance. The crowd roared for the local Stockton native and the Tigers went on to capture game two, 30-26.

Unfortunately the break between games two and three allowed Long Beach State to regain their composure and the 49ers returned to the court much more focussed.

Long Beach State grabbed another early lead in game three, building a 9-5 advantage. Following the same pattern as game two, Pacific battled back and pulled even at 14-14. As the game approached the final stretch, Pacific held a 23-22 lead. However a four-point surge for the 49ers put the Tigers down 26-23. The Tigers were able to battle back to tie the score on two separate occasions, but could not break through to take the lead. Long Beach State began their comeback as a kill from Crimes and a an error by Uhl gave the 49ers the game, 32-30.

Pacific lost their focus for a moment in game four and that opened the door for the talented 49ers. Leading 12-9, Pacific surrendered 12 of the next 13 points on seven Long Beach State kills and five Tiger errors. Staked to a 21-13 lead, Long Beach State went on to take game four, 30-22, sending the contest to a deciding fifth frame.

Game five was a back and forth affair as Pacific held an 8-6 lead when the two teams changed ends, but Long Beach State responded with back-to-back points to tie things up at 8-8. Following a kill from Hilbers, the 49ers found Quincy Verdin on three consecutive points to grab an 11-9 edge. The Tigers got back within a point two times, including at 14-13, but Crimes closed the match with her 14th kill of the night.

Anderson and Hilbers each finished with 16 kills in the match, while Engelhardt and Uhl both delivered double-doubles with 14 kills and 11 and 16 digs respectively.

Magud finished the night with 26 digs, giving her 1,677 digs in her career.

Verdin led the way for Long Beach State with 21 kills and 10 digs.

The Tigers will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 13 as Pacific hosts Cal State Northridge at 7 p.m. in the Alex G. Spanos Center.