Aug. 13, 2008

Stockton, Calif. - Pacific's 18-9 mark during the 2007 season was better than a 10-match improvement in just the second year under head coach Charlie Wade. The Tigers boasted three tournament championships (Portland / Nike Invitational, Pacific / Asics Tournament and the 29th Annual Community Bankers Classic). That success was a step forward, but by no means the goal.

"We won ten more matches and we obviously were a better team. We were proud of the fact that we improved, but not satisfied. Ultimately we want to be regionally competitive and nationally competitive," said Wade. "That means being one of the top two or three teams in the league and ultimately winning our conference."

In addition to the increased team success, Pacific reached numerous individual honors as Johanna Hilbers (Omaha, Neb.) and Alexa Anderson (Los Gatos, Calif.) each earned All-Big West First Team honors, while Svenja Engelhardt (Sinsheim, Germany), Julie Magud (Stockton, Calif.) and Meagan MimMack (Upland, Calif.) nabbed All-Big West Honorable Mention in 2007.

The departure of Hilbers and Magud to graduation leaves the Tigers with huge holes in the middle and defensively, but Wade believes the 2008 Pacific team has both the depth and experience to not only fill those gaps, but improve.

"We have the potential to be a significantly better team, because we have more depth and firepower," concluded Wade.

LIBEROS/DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS

For the first time in four seasons, Pacific will have a new look at the libero position. The burden of replacing Magud, who left the team as Pacific's all-time digs leader with 1,904 digs, will fall on the shoulders of junior Dancyne Kama (Hilo, Hawaii). In her two years at Pacific, Dancyne has been one of the Tigers most versatile players, seeing time as the starting setter and as a back row specialist. Kama has been a weapon from the service line. During 2007, she finished third on the team with 218 digs and second with 137 assists.

While Kama is expected to see the bulk of play as the libero, senior Kara Uhl (Long Beach, Calif.), junior Carly Hiromoto (Aiea, Hawaii) and freshman Kimi Reid (Tucson, Ariz.) will also see time in the back row for the Tigers and could spell Kama at the libero position. While Kama is versatile, Uhl's versatility gives Pacific depth at a variety of positions. Kara has 790 career digs, including 302 last season. She can also bang from the outside, knocking down 312 kills in 2007, including a career-high 38 kills in Pacific's 3-2 win over Cincinnati in the championship match of the 29th Annual Community Bankers Classic. Uhl's performance earned her the tournament MVP award. In addition, Kara is a weapon at the service line for the Tigers, averaging 0.32 aces per game, the sixth highest percentage in Pacific history.

MIDDLE BLOCKERS

The departure of Hilbers moves junior Meagan MimMack (Upland, Calif.) and senior Natalia Tomaszewska (Marklowice, Poland) into more prominent roles in the middle. MimMack earned her second consecutive All-Big West award in 2007, finishing the season with 268 kills, a 2.65 kpg average, and led Pacific with 83 blocks. MimMack also led the team with 0.82 bpg, despite splitting time in the middle and at the opposite positions last season. Tomaszewska moves to the middle after playing on the outside during each of her first two seasons at Pacific. Natalia also provides another threat from the service line for the Tigers, averaging 0.19 aces per game in her career.

Junior Masha Vaysburg (Livermore, Calif.) should push both MimMack and Vaysburg as Masha had 46 blocks in just 69 games (0.67 bpg) last season and is averaging 0.88 blocks per game in her career. Vaysburg closed the 2007 season with a strong performance in the 29th Annual Bankers Classic, earning All-Tournament team honors.

In addition, incoming freshmen, Rebekah Torres (Waihawa, Hawaii) will push for playing time at both the middle blocker and on the outside.

OUTSIDE HITTERS/OPPOSITE

Once again the Tigers are strong at the outside hitter and opposite position. Returning starters Anderson and Engelhardt are joined by transfer Mallori Gibson (Bakersfield, Calif.), freshman Kimi Reid (Tucson, Ariz.), Torres and Uhl. Anderson finished second on the team with 326 kills and third with 3.23 kpg last season, while Engelhardt had a breakout season with 261 and 3.14 kpg.

Anderson reached 10 kills or more in 19 matches last season, while Engelhardt posted 10 or more kills in 16 matches. Named to the All-Big West Freshman team, Engelhardt set the Pacific single season record in 2007 with 64 aces in just 83 games. Svenja finished the season ranked third in the nation with 0.77 aces per game. Uhl, meanwhile, led the Tigers with 3.28 kills per game in 2007. Gibson comes to Pacific from Colorado, where she recorded 673 kills over the past two season.

SETTERS

Coming off a stellar season where she led the Big West Conference with 13.36 assists per game and finished 11th in the nation in apg, senior Shannon Krug (Colorado Springs, Colo.) will be the Tigers' starting setter. Despite missing the final three matches of the season due to injury, Shannon led the Tigers with 1189 assists.

For the first time in several years the Tigers have significant depth at the setting position as junior Olivia Riley (Agua Dulce, Calif.) as well as freshmen Arielle Goldberg (Damascus, Mary.) and Megan MacLeod (Fremont, Calif.) will battle for time behind Krug, Riley was 3-0 in the starting role when Krug went down last season, leading the Tigers to the Bankers Classic Championship.

SCHEDULE

Pacific opens the 2008 regular season on the road for three consecutive tournaments. Pacific begins the season against Western Michigan at the Florida Tournament on Aug. 29 at 1:30 p.m. The following afternoon the Tigers face the host Gators. The second tournament of the season sends Pacific to Corvallis, Ore. to face Oregon State, Pepperdine and Colorado State from Sept. 5-7. The final pre-season tournament takes Wade back to Hawaii for the first time as a head coach as Pacific faces Washington, Hawai'i and Saint Mary's from Sept. 11-13.

Following a rigorous Big West schedule, the Tigers close out the regular season slate with the 30th Annual Community Bankers Classic (Nov. 28-29). The Tigers host Nevada, Portland and Utah in the 30th edition of one of the most prestigious women's volleyball tournaments in the country.