Stockton, Calif. - The University of the Pacific volleyball team returns home in the midst of a three-match winning streak to host Pepperdine (Thur., Oct. 7) and Loyola Marymount (Sat., Oct. 9). In the Tigers last three wins, Pacific is hitting at a .205 clip to go along with 28 service aces and 26 blocks.
MATCH DETAILS:
Teams: Pepperdine University (12-1, 4-0 WCC) at University of the Pacific (4-10, 3-2 WCC)
Date: Thursday, Oct. 7
Time: 7 p.m. (PT)
Location: Stockton, Calif. | Alex G. Spanos Center
Pepperdine Quick Facts
• Name: Pepperdine University
• Location: Malibu, Calif.
• Nickname: Waves
• Head Coach: Scott Wong
• Last win for Pacific: Nov. 3, 2018
Saturday's MATCH DETAILS
A Look at the Opponent:
Teams: Loyola Marymount University at University of the Pacific
Date: Saturday, Oct. 9
Time: Noon (PT)
Location: Stockton, Calif. | Alex G. Spanos Center
Loyola Marymount Quick Facts
• Name: Loyola Marymount University
• Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
• Nickname: Lions
• Head Coach: Aaron Mansfield
• Last win for Pacific: Nov. 1, 2018
Single Digits
Pacific had just eight hitting errors to go along with 31 kills in the straight-set win over Portland (Sept. 30). The last time that Pacific had single-digit hitting errors was in a nine-error effort against Portland (Nov. 10, 2018). Pacific has had single-digit hitting errors on three occasions since 2015. The last time that they had eight was on
3 was against Little Rock on August 29, 2014.
Block Party
The Tigers are averaging 1.80 blocks per set including a season-high 12 blocks in the five-set loss to Cal (Sept. 4). The 12 blocks are the most by a Pacific team since a 12 block effort at Portland on October 10, 2019.
Ramonni Cook leads Pacific with 29 block assists, including five against Cal (Sept. 4). In nine matches, most recently at Gonzaga, the Tigers have recorded double-figure block assists. Pacific recorded a season-high 18 against CSUN (Sept. 11). The 18 were the most since a 22-block assist effort against Pepperdine on Nov. 3, 2018.
Home Sweet Home
With last week's win at the Alex G. Spanos Center, the Tigers have won eight of its last nine conference home openers. Plus, Pacific has now won nine of its last ten meetings at home against the University of San Francisco. The lone blemish came last spring on Feb. 9, 2021.
Bringing the Hammer
In the five-set loss to Sacramento State (Sept. 10), the Tigers put down a season-high 66 kills. The 66 kills are the most since a 71-kill effort against Santa Clark on Feb. 23, 2021. Also, Pacific hit .200 in the win on Tuesday against USF – its second highest hitting percentage of the season.
All-Tournament Honors
•
Ramonni Cook (Elk Grove, Calif.) was named to the Sacramento State All-Tournament Team. Cook averaged 2.67 kills per set and a .197 hitting percentage, plus she also averaged 0.67 blocks. In the Tigers' four-set win over CSUN, she had 10 kills en route to a .304 hitting percentage to go along with four blocks. The night before in a five-set loss to Sacramento State, she had 13 kills and three blocks.
• Alexa Edwards (Sacramento, Calif.),
Darina Kumanova (Sofia, Bulgaria) and
Jadyn Tubbs (Turlock, Calif.) were named to the Pacific Community Classic All-Tournament Team. Edwards, a sophomore outside hitter from Sacramento, had 50 kills and a .252 hitting percentage to go along with six blocks in the three matches to lead Pacific. She recorded a season-high 21 kills in the five-set loss to Cal. She started the tournament with an 18-kill performance in the straight-set win over Tarleton State.
Kumanova, a sophomore outside hitter from Sofia, Bulgaria, has made an immediate impact after transferring in from UMBC. She had 31 kills and a .194 hitting percentage and a team-best 10 service aces. Kumanova had five service aces in the straight-set win over UC San Diego.
Tubbs, a senior libero from Turlock, had a team-best 56 digs and five service aces in the three matches. All five of her service aces came in the straight-set win over Tarleton State.
Serving Up Aces
Pacific has had 12 service aces in three matches, most recently on Tuesday against USF (Sept. 28). The 12 aces are the most by a Pacific squad since they also had 12 aces against Alabama State on Sept. 7, 2018. Of note, Pacific had 13 service aces against the University of San Francisco on October 21, 2017.
No Sophomore Jinx
Sophomore
Alexa Edwards is off to a strong second season in the orange and black with a team-high 230 kills. Her 230 kills lead the West Coast Conference, plus she has been in double figures in kills in 13 of the Tigers' 17 matches. The 230 kills are the most by any sophomore in the nation.
Just Diggin It
Tigers' libero
Jadyn Tubbs leads the WCC with 259 digs. Last spring, she broke the 1,000 career dig plateau. Tubbs is averaging 4.39 digs per set.
Setting Up for Success
Pacific is using a pair of setters –
Jenna Heller and
Gabby Leo – to set up its attack. Heller leads the Tigers with 349 assists and Leo has 198.
Family Tree
Alexa Edwards (Sacramento, Calif.),
Jenna Heller (Gilbert, Ariz.) and
Sammie Sublett (Ramona, Calif.) are second generation members of the Tigers. Cathy Lumb-Edwards, the mother of
Alexa Edwards, played for the Tigers from 1980-83 and served as a graduate assistant for Pacific's 1986 national championship team. Heller is the third member of her family to attend Pacific, as her father DJ (1989-90) played baseball while her mother Melanie Beckenhauer-Heller (1988-91) was a two-time All-American on the volleyball team. Sublett's mother, Leona Bielefeld-Sublett (1985-88), was a player on both of the Tigers' 1985 and 1986 national championship teams.
Classroom Success
The Tigers'
Gabby Leo was named to the West Coast Conference All-Academic Team for a second-straight year for her efforts in the classroom. At the conclusion of each athletic season, the WCC selects an all-academic squad for each WCC-sponsored sport. To be considered, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average, while also being a significant contributor to her team.