Aug. 24, 2007
Box Score
Reno, Nev. - In the first match of the season, the Pacific women's volleyball showed what a difference a year makes as the Tigers dominated the Nevada Wolf Pack, earning a 3-0 victory.
Game scores for the match were 30-19, 30-28, 30-28.
With the win the Tigers moved to 1-0 on the season, while Nevada fell to 0-1. It is the first time since 2003 that the Tigers opened the season with a victory.
Pacific controlled game one from the start thanks to the play of junior Kara Uhl (Cypress, Calif.). After sitting out all but five matches of the 2006 season with a leg injury, Uhl delivered six kills, four digs and a solo block to push the Tigers to a 30-19 victory. Junior Alexa Anderson (Los Gatos, Calif.) also added six kills in the game, while sophomore Meagan MimMack (Upland, Calif.) had five kills.
Nevada came back with much more energy defensively, resulting in a better performance in game two. Despite trailing for much of game two, the Tigers match the intensity of Nevada and stayed within striking distance. As the teams approached 20 points each, Pacific battled all the way back to take a 20-19 lead. The two teams traded down the stretch, building to a 27-27 tie.
With the game on the line, Nevada forced Uhl into an attack error to grab a 28-27 lead. Pacific, however, came right back as MimMack painted the back line to tie the score at 28-28. On the next point, the middle tandem of senior Johanna Hilbers (Omaha, Neb.) and sophomore Masha Vaysburg (Livermore, Calif.) forced Nevada senior Teal Ericson into an attack error, giving the Tigers a chance to nab a two game lead. Anderson made sure Pacific capitalized on that opportunity as she nailed down here 14th kill of the match to earn a 30-28 win in game two.
The Wolf Pack came out hot once again at the start of game three, racing to a 5-2 lead. As the Tigers did throughout the match, Pacific rallied, scoring four straight points to take a 6-5 lead. The Tigers pushed their lead to as much as three points at 12-9, but this time it was Nevada's turn to rattle off four straight points and reclaim the lead at 13-12. The seesaw battle raged on to the stretch of game three as the 15th tie of game three left the score at 24-24. A three point burst from the Wolf Pack, put the Tigers down 27-24.
Moments later, down 28-25 the Tigers stunned Nevada with five straight points to grab the sweep. MimMack kicked off the Tigers' rally with a kill down the middle of the floor. MimMack then exited the game as sophomore Dancyne Kama (Hilo, Hawaii) went to the service line. Kama made an immediate impact, delivering the Tigers first ace of the match to make it a one point game. Following a timeout from Nevada, the Tigers forced a critical attack error from Nevada senior Karly Sipherd to tie the game at 28-28. Pacific continued to pour the pressure on as Anderson delivered her 17th kill of the night to give the Tigers their first match point. Pacific capitalized on the opportunity by forcing Sipherd into her ninth attacking error of the match as the Tigers nabbed their second consecutive game, 30-28.
Uhl led the Tigers on the night with 18 kills and 11 digs, giving her five straight matches with a double-double. Anderson finished the night just behind Uhl, with 17 kills. MimMack, meanwhile, posted 10 kills. Ericson and Sipherd led Nevada with 12 kills each.
The Tigers return to action on Friday, August 31 at 2 p.m. as Pacific begins play in the Colorado State Tournament against No. 16 Ohio State.
