STOCKTON, Calif. - After a successful Pacific Northwest trip, the Pacific volleyball team (17-9, 9-5 WCC) returns to the Alex G. Spanos Center one final time for the 2023 season as the Tigers host Pepperdine (18-6, 14-0 WCC). Pacific ends its regular season on the road, where the Tigers revisit Saint Mary's (15-11, 9-5 WCC) in Moraga, Calif.
Thursday night is senior night for Pacific's five seniors (
Alexa Edwards,
Biamba Kabengele,
Darina Kumanova,
Miranda Baptista and
Ramonni Cook), and all will be recognized at the conclusion of the night. The Tigers face the 2023 WCC Champion, Pepperdine, for their final home match of the year. The Waves won the title outright after defeating San Diego in Malibu this past weekend as they earned an unblemished conference record at 14-0.
Pepperdine is led by junior Grace Chillingworth. She's recorded 315 kills through 80 sets and leads the Waves with 27 service aces. Chillingworth bolsters Pepperdine's defense with 186 digs and 28.0 blocks. Senior Birdie Hendrickson has notched 224 kills,21 service aces and 191 digs.
Graduate student Isabel Zelaya leads the team with 816 assists. She adds 158 digs and 32.0 blocks to build up the defense dominance of the Waves. Sophomore Vanessa Polk leads Pepperdine with 69.0 blocks and adds 116 kills, hitting .300 on 253 attempts and 40 errors.
The Tigers fell to the Waves on the road earlier this year in Malibu and are 4-5 against the Waves at the Spanos Center.
Saturday afternoon is the final match of the season for the Tigers. They travel to Saint Mary's in a rematch from earlier this season, where the Gaels got the 3-2 edge in Stockton.
Senior Kjersti Strong leads the Gaels with 289 kills, hitting .331 on 643 attempts and 76 errors. She's added 23 service aces, while also leading the team in blocks with 155.0 this year. Redshirt sophomore Genevieve Bane adds 249 kills and 30 service aces to the Gael offense.
Paving the way for the Gaels' offense is senior Ella Sandt, who's collected 641 assists on the season thus far. She adds 216 digs to the defense, aiding senior Makenna Joyce who leads with 388 digs.
The Tigers and the Gaels are tied in their series contests in Moraga after Pacific beat Saint Mary's on the road a year prior 3-1.
Pacific hosts Pepperdine on Thursday night at 6 p.m. at the Alex G. Spanos Center for its senior celebration. Come out and support the Tigers in their final home match of the season! The Tigers then travel to Saint Mary's for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday, Nov. 18.
