Oct. 9, 2009
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - After dropping the first set of the night, the Pacific women's volleyball team rallied for a 3-1 win over Cal State Fullerton on Friday, October 9, at the Alex G. Spanos Center. The win improved the Tigers to 3-2 in conference action and 13-3 overall while the Titans fell to 2-2 in Big West play and 11-6 on the year.
Set scores for the match were: 20-25, 25-16, 25-16, 27-25.
Coming home for just the second time in conference play, the Tigers needed one set to readjust to their familiar surroundings before taking full advantage of their home court. To open the match, the Tigers jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the first set behind an initial burst of energy. However, the Titans were ready for the Tigers, rallying back by forcing the Tigers' into attacking mistakes. Behind the serve of Erin Saddler, Cal State Fullerton took the lead at 14-12 and never looked back, holding off a late Tiger rally to capture the first set.
On the attacking front, the Titans held the Tigers' potent offense in check, forcing Pacific into eight errors and a .143 hitting percentage at the net. While holding off the Tigers, Cal State Fullerton hit .314, tallying just two errors on 35 swings led by Torrie Brown's five kills on seven attacks.
Despite the rocky start to the night, Pacific rebounded in the second set, pounding away at the Titan defense until it cracked midway through the set. Up 16-13, the Tigers put together a furious run to close out Cal State Fullerton, capturing nine of the final 12 points to cruise to their first set win of the night. After being held in check in the first set, sophomore Rebekah Torres (Wahiawa, Hawaii) came alive in set two, tallying four kills and no errors on six attacks. She picked up a pair of kills in the Tigers' 9-3 run to close out the set. Additionally, Pacific's serve found its flow as the Tigers dropped in four service aces in the set including a two in the final four points of play off of the hand of senior Olivia Riley (Agua Dulce, Calif.). Riley would finish with three aces on the night.
Not to be outdone by her teammate on the outside, junior Svenja Engelhardt (Sinsheim, Germany) posting a nearly perfect second set as well, equaling Torres swing for swing to post four kills and no errors in six attacks. Through the first two sets, Engelhardt led the way for the Tigers with seven kills and no errors on 14 attempts.
With the offense in rhythm, the Tigers wasted no time taking a two sets to one lead, dispatching the Titans in the third set by the same 25-16 score. Unlike the second set, however, the third set was a slugfest at the net as both teams posted their best hitting performances of the night with Pacific edging out Cal State Fullerton, .483 to .450. The Tigers sent a pair of hitters at the Titans in the set in the form of Torres and senior Mallori Gibson (Bakersifeld, Calif.) while Cal State Fullerton could only counter with a single attacker in Saddler.
Throughout the set, Torres and Gibson combined for 13 of Pacific's 17 kills, with Torres making just one error while Gibson went errorless in nine attacks. The duo was able to outpace Saddler and the Titans as she posted five of her team's 11 kills while making no mistakes in six swings. In addition to their battle at the net, Gibson's presence both defensively and behind the service line made the difference for the Tigers as she put up three digs and a pair of aces in the set.
Needing just one set for the match victory, the Tigers were forced to battle back against the Titans late in the set, overcoming a late three point lead and one set point to steal away the fourth and decisive set in the match. Trading points and small runs throughout much of the set, the Titans grabbed hold of the momentum in the set with a 4-1 run at 17-17 to take a commanding 21-18 lead on the Tigers. Despite the deficit, Pacific rallied with a pair of points, none bigger than their point win at 21-19 when Pacific blocked back four attacks by the Titans before finally putting the point away on an attack by senior Masha Vaysburg (Livermore, Calif.) on a free ball back to the Tigers after their fourth and final defensive stand of the point.
With the momentum in hand from the long point, the Tigers posted their first match point of the night at 24-23, only to see the Titans continue the fight with a kill of their own. After staving off the Titans' only set point of the night, the Tigers took home the win by forcing Saddler into a pair of attack errors. Up until the final two points, Saddler had committed just two errors in the match, both of which had come earlier in the set.
Overall, Engelhardt proved to be at her best at home against the Titans' as she posted and error free night, tallying 11 kills on 26 attacks. The junior also posted her fourth double-double of the season after adding 11 digs to her 11 kills. She also was the Tigers' top server on the night with four aces while also adding one block. Keeping pace with Engelhardt was her outside mates as Gibson led the Tigers with 16 kills on 42 attempts with six errors while Torres finished with 15 kills and five errors on 34 attacks. Gibson posted her second double-double of the season as she also tallied 11 digs for the Tigers. As a team, Pacific hit .281 (55-17-135) while winning the service game with 11 aces to the Titans' three.
Offensively for Cal State Fullerton, Saddler led all hitter on the night with 18 kills on 44 swings with just four errors. She was the lone Titan to reach double figures as the team posted 50 kills on 142 attempts with 20 errors (.211).
The win for the Tigers pushed the team past their 2008 season total of 12 wins.
Pacific will look for its first win over a top ranked opponent on Saturday, October 10 as it hosts No. 20 Long Beach State at the Alex G. Spanos Center. The match is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
