Box Score STOCKTON, Calif. – Pacific volleyball opened the 2023 home season at the Alex G. Spanos Center by winning a tight four-set contest over UC Davis, 25-23, 26-28, 26-24, 25-20. The victory was special for the Tigers (1-2) as both teams participated in the Arizona tournament last weekend. UC Davis (2-1) beat both Arizona and North Carolina, while Pacific dropped two close contests.
 
Senior Biamba Kabengele led the Pacific attack with a season-best 18 kills while seniors Alexa Edwards and Darina Kumanova each chipped in 10. Junior setter Jenna Heller matched her career high with six kills on 13 attempts for a team-best .462 hitting percentage (6-0-13).
 
Edwards and sophomore Emily Van Groningen both finished with four blocks on the day. Junior libero Megan Nishimura led the team with 16 digs while Edwards, 11 and Heller, 10, both reached double figures. Heller had a team-best 33 assists.
 
"I think the difference in the match was the competitive spirit that we developed throughout the match," Heller said postgame. "We found a way to win and to create chaos on their side. We weren't playing our best, but we found a way go get them out of their rhythm."
 
Pacific had a big 54-39 edge in kills in the match, which was enough to overcome the UC Davis advantage in blocks, 9-8 and service aces, 7-6.
 
Pacific won a close first set. With the Aggies leading 23-22 late in the set, Pacific rallied for three straight points behind a kill and block by sophomore Van Groningen followed by a service ace by freshman Dylan Gilkey for the 25-23 win.
 
In the second set, both teams served for set point in a 28-26 win by the Aggies. Pacific had a chance at 24-23 and at 25-24, then battled back with a Kabengele kill when UC Davis had a shot at 26-25. UC Davis scored the next two for a 28-26 win.
 
In the third set, Pacific trailed 23-21 before winning five of the last six points for the 26-24 final score. The Tigers were in control in the fourth set, taking the lead for good at 5-4 off a Kabengele kill. Pacific led by as many as six, hitting .345 with 13 kills and picking up three blocks to zero for the Aggies.
 
Pacific returns to action Friday with two matches at the EWU Tournament in Cheney, Washington. The Tigers face Nevada (1-2) at 10 a.m. and Seattle (2-1) at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, Pacific will match up with host Eastern Washington (1-2) at 1:30 p.m.
 
The next home contest for the Tigers will be Thursday, Sept. 14 when Pacific faces Fresno State at 6 p.m. in the first round of the Central Cal Challenge. CSU Bakersfield and Sacramento State will face off at 3 p.m. in the opening match of the event.