The University of the Pacific volleyball team will begin West Coast Conference play on Thursday to face No. 11 BYU. The nationally-ranked Cougarsranks No. 3 in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.320), No. 7 in kills per set (14.42), No. 10 in aces per set (2.11) and No. 15 in opposite hitting percentage (.132). The Cougars lead the WCC in all four categories. The Tigers currently lead the WCC in digs per set (15.24), team assists (487), team attacks (1,542) and team digs (640). The two teams are one-two in the West Coast Conference in kills as the Tigers are 1st (521) and the Cougars are 2nd (519).

MATCH INFORMATION:
Teams: Pacific (3-8, 0-0 WCC) at No. 11 BYU (10-1, 0-0 WCC)
Date: Thursday, September 23, 2021
Time: 6 p.m. (PT)
Location: Provo, Utah
Live Stats: http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=byu
Live Video: https://byucougars.com/schedule/w-volleyball/2021

A Look at the Opponent:

BYU Quick Facts
• Name: Brigham Young University
• Location: Provo, Utah
• Nickname: Cougars
• Head Coach: Heather Olmstead

Block Party
The Tigers are averaging 1.76 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. Kaelyn Saler leads Pacific with 26 block assists, including five in a pair of matches.

Seeing Double Double
Jenna Heller has had seven double doubles – including the last three matches – on the season.Alexa Edwards has had four, Darina Kumanova has had three and Gabby Leo has had one.

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.

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 Pacvific. 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. Last weekend, she 31 kills and a .194 hitting percentage and a team-best 10 service aces. Kumanova had five of them 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 - Tarleton (Sept. 3) and CSUN (Sept. 11), 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 black and orange with a team-high 176 kills. Her 176 kills lead the West Coast Conference, plus she is also third with 4.19 kills per set.

Just Diggin It
Tigers' libero Jadyn Tubbs leads the WCC with 197 digs. Last spring, she broke the 1,000 career dig plateau.

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 274 assists and Leo has 160.

Family Tree
Alexa Edwards (Sacramento, Calif.) and Jenna Heller (Gilbert, Ariz.) are second generation members of the Tigers. Cathy Lumb-Edwards, the mother ofAlexa Edwards, played on the 1986 national championship team and also went on to serve as a graduate assistant coach for the Tigers. Heller is the third member of her family to attend Pacific, as her father DJ (1989-90) played baseball while her mother Melanie (1988-91) was a two-time All-American on the volleyball team herself.
 
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. Plus, Tubbs received honorable mention recognition.