Feb. 27, 2009

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific Tigers men's volleyball team fell to No. 8 Brigham Young University on Friday, February 27, by a score of 3-1. With the loss, the Tigers fell to 2-15 overall and 0-12 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). The Cougars improved to 8-6 on the season and 6-3 in the MPSF.

The set scores for the match were: 24-30, 30-21, 30-25 and 30-25.

In the first set, the Tigers outhit the Cougars .333 to .206. With the score tied at 2-2, Pacific started to gain a lead on BYU. The Tigers would score the next two points and would never relinquish the lead. At 18-15, the Tigers scored three consecutive points on a kill from freshman Sean Daley (Moorpark, Calif.) and one by senior Jeff Hendershot (Claremont, Calif.), as well as a service ace from freshman Eric Fuchino (Roseville, Calif.), taking the score to 21-15. The Tigers continued to fight off the Cougars, as junior Jason Borchin (Roseville, Calif.) finished the set with a kill, as Pacific took the first set by a score of 30-24.

The Tigers jumped off to a quick 4-1 lead, but BYU quickly started to gain on the Tigers, as the Cougars scored 15 of the next 18 points, bringing the score to 16-7. With BYU outhitting the Tigers .308 to -.050, Pacific could not retake the lead, as BYU won the set 30-21.

The Tigers and the Cougars battled back in forth through 12 tie scores and six lead changes during the third set. Late in the set with the score tied at 20-20, the Tigers scored on a block assist from Daley and junior Kevin Pratte (Hemet, Calif.). BYU scored the next two points, but a kill from Borchin tied the game back up at 22-22. The Cougars would score eight of the next 11 points, taking the set by a score of 30-25.

BYU quickly gained a 10-3 lead on the Tigers, in the decisive fourth set. Later in the set, at 29-16, the Tigers scored four consecutive points, including a kill from freshman Nicolaas Schenk (Kamuela, Hawaii) and a block by Hendershot. But the Cougars would score the final point to win the set, 30-20, and the match 3-1.

Hendershot led the Tigers with 18 kills, and junior Mark Bauhs (Danville, Calif.) had a match-high of 15 digs.

Andrew Stewart had 21 kills and 8 digs for the Cougars.

The Tigers will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. in the Alex G. Spanos Center to take back on the BYU Cougars.