Stockton, Calif. - Playing at home for the second time in 2013 and closing out their inaugural season of sand volleyball, the Tigers posted one of their biggest wins of the season as Pacific upset No. 9 Saint Mary's, 4-1, on Saturday, April 20. The win for the Tigers moved their season record to 5-4 overall while handing the Gaels just their second loss of the season as they moved to 7-2 overall.
As season of new experiences and growth for the Tigers in its program's infancy culminated in arguably the team's biggest win of the season as Pacific took down the freshly top-10 ranked Gaels in their regular season finale. Falling in just one match on the day, the Tigers dominated their home courts with wins at No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 5.
To open the day, Pacific got on the board first with a split of the opening matches as the team of sophomores Katy Tagart and Gillian Howard scored the first point for Pacific. Taking on Rachel Gillcrest and Milena Popovic, the sophomore tandem came up with the critical first point as the duo outlasted Saint Mary's, 21-14, 18-21, 15-13.
With one point on the board for each team, the Tigers took control of their home courts during the middle two matches as Pacific solidified their third home win of the season with a sweep of the action. Continuing their dominance, the freshmen duo of Kimmy Whitson and Alicja Wilk pulled off the win at No. 3 to grab their sixth-straight win and seventh win overall on the year. On the next court over, freshman Anne-Sophie Bauer and junior Jennifer Sanders needed three-sets to grab the victory, but in the end held tough to win 21-6, 12-21, 15-12.
Owning the match and playing for postseason positioning only in the final match of the morning, the Tigers top pair of senior Hannah Clancy and freshman Kat Schulz came up with their sixth win of the season in just their seventh match with a win over Dalas Dodd and Jordan Shaw. Rebounding from their first and only loss of the season earlier in the week, Clancy and Schulz dominated their match at the No. 1 spot as the duo won 21-10, 21-13.
With the victory the Tigers will wait to see if any of their teams make the national championship tournament at the end of the year.
Pacific 4 - #9 Saint Mary's 1
#1 Kat Schulz/Hannah Clancy (PAC) def. Dalas Dodd/Jordan Shaw (SMC) - 21-10, 21-13
#2 Anne-Sophie Bauer/Jennifer Sanders (PAC) def. Kristina Graven/Sam Tinsley (SMC) - 21-16, 12-21, 15-12
#3 Kimmy Whitson/Alicja Wilk (PAC) def. Danica Mendivil/Mileva Popovic (SMC) - 21-19, 21-15
#4 Frannie Cormier/Natalie Loos (SMC) def. Megan Birch/Mia Feiner (PAC) - 25-21, 21-13
#5 Katy Tagart/Gillian Howard (PAC) def. Rachel Gillcrest/Milena Popovic (SMC) - 21-14, 18-21, 15-13
