Jan. 23, 2009

Box Score

Malibu, Calif. The Tigers were defeated by No. 4 Pepperdine by a score of 3-0 on Friday, January 23.With the loss Pacific fell to 2-5 overall and 0-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). The Wave became 4-0 overall and 3-0 in MPSF.

Set scores for the match were: 30-25, 30-25 and 30-28.

The first set started off with Pacific and Pepperdine battling back and forth. In the beginning of the set, Pacific was down 5-3, but a kill from freshman Sean Daley (Moorpark, Calif.) and an ace by junior Jason Borchin (Roseville, Calif.) tied the game back up at 5-5. The Tigers fought to tie the game seven times, the last tie score of the set being 10-10. At this point, the Waves took a lead by scoring four consecutive points, bringing the score to 14-10. The Tigers were able to bring Pepperdine's lead within three points with a kill from senior Joe Forbes (Westport, Conn.) at a score of 21-18. The Waves were able to stay on top of the Tigers, despite their last efforts. Freshman Nicolaas Schenk (Kamuela, Hawaii) and junior Kevin Pratte (Hemet, Calif.) combined for three late kills to bring the score to 27-24. Pepperdine hit .647 with 25 kills on 34 attempts with three errors, compared to Pacific's .400, with 16 kills on 30 attempts and four errors. The Tigers lost the set, 30-25.

Early in the second set, down 4-2, the Tigers took the lead 5-4, with a block assist by junior Mark Bauhs (Danville, Calif.) and Daley, an ace by Pratte, and a kill from Schenk. Later in the set, the Waves took a 15-10 lead, by scoring three straight points. With Pacific down 26-19, a service error by Pepperdine, two service aces by Pratte and a kill from Daley, the Tigers were down by three, 26-23. Unfortunately, the Waves were able to hold Pacific off down the stretch as the last two points the Tigers would score this set would be from kills by Borchin. The final score of the set was 30-25. Pacific's hitting percentage dropped to .100, and the Waves' fell to .296.

Pacific and Pepperdine fought through 20 tied scores during the third set. After the game had already tied at 1-1 and 2-2, the Waves were able to jump out to a 5-2 lead. But the Tigers jumped out in front scoring four consecutive points, on a kill from Daley and Forbes and two errors committed by Pepperdine, bringing the score to 6-5. Tied at 9-9 moments later, a kill from Borchin and another error by the Waves, Pacific was leading 11-9. However their lead would soon diminish, as Pepperdine scored three consecutive points, and tied the score at 14-14.

Later with the score tied at 23-23, Pacific led Pepperdine into two errors, bringing the score to 25-23 in favor of the Tigers. Pepperdine answered with three consecutive points to reclaim the advantage, 26-25. The Tigers caught back up behind a kill from Borchin. Down 28-26 two points later, the Tigers knotting the set again with one of Schenk's 12 kills, and a block by Daley, to tie the game back up at 28-28. Unfortunately, the Tigers would fall short, and Pepperdine would take this set, and ultimately the match, by a score of 30-28.

Schenk's 12 kills led Pacific with 12 kills, while Borchin finished with 10 kills.

Paul Carroll paved the road for the Waves with a match-high 14 kills and a .571 hitting percentage.

The Tigers will play USC on January 24 at 7 p.m. in Los Angeles.