University of the Pacific

SPOKANE, Wash. - Pacific's volleyball team earned its 17th win of the season after defeating Gonzaga, 25-16, 25-15, 18-25, 25-22 in Spokane, Wash. The Tigers complete the series sweep of the Bulldogs this season to extend their match winning streak to seven over Gonzaga, dating back to the 2020 season.
 
A 10-2 scoring run jump started from back-to-back kills by seniors Darina Kumanova and Alexa Edwards elevated the Tigers to their 25-16 set win at the start of the afternoon. Pacific hit .538 in the first set with 17 kills on 26 attempts and 3 errors.
 
The Tigers stayed sharp in the second set, hitting .324 for 18 kills on 37 attempts and six errors to cruise to the 25-15 set two victory. The Pacific offense fell in the third, hitting .069 as Gonzaga forced a fourth set 25-18. The Bulldogs tried to carry their momentum into the fourth set, but the Tigers put them away 25-22, hitting an improved .195 from the third set to claim the 3-1 victory. 
 
Edwards led the team with 19 kills, 13 digs and a block, while hitting .342 through four sets on 38 attempts and six errors en route to the double-double. Kumanova added 12 kills and a service ace to the effort, while fifth year senior Biamba Kabengele returned to action for the first time since Pacific's road match at Santa Clara. In her return, she notched 12 kills and five digs, while hitting .273 on 22 attempts and six errors. 
 
Junior Jenna Heller added two kills and nearly tied her season-high in assists, tallying 50 assists on the afternoon. The junior also recorded a double-double, collecting 11 digs through four sets. Sophomore Emily Van Groningen sealed the match with the final kill of the afternoon. She went for 7 kills and three digs, while hitting .400 on 15 attempts and one error.
 
Junior Megan Nishimura cataloged a kill for the Tigers Saturday afternoon for her second of the season as a Pacific libero. On the defensive side, she tallied 10 digs on the day.
 
Pacific returns to the Alex G. Spanos Center for the final time this season as they host the newly crowned 2023 WCC Champion Pepperdine on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. for senior night.