Stockton, Calif. - Day two of the Central Cal Challenge saw the Pacific volleyball team move to 2-0 after sweeping CSU Bakersfield 25-20, 25-12, 28-26 on Friday evening at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
 
Senior Biamba Kabengele led the team with 11 kills, while hitting .455 to spearhead the offensive charge for the Tigers. Junior Megan Nishimura also came up big for Pacific, leading the Tigers with her 13 digs and three service aces.
 
The Tigers played CSU Bakersfield close in the first set, with neither side allowing the other to go on a run. After tying 20-20, the gates opened for Pacific behind a kill from Kabengele, putting them on a 5-0 run to take the first set.
 
Pacific never trailed in the second set, leading by as many as twelve heading into set point. The second set saw the Tigers hitting a staggering .385 (13-3-26), building significantly from the momentum of the first set. A dynamite kill from Ramonni Cook sealed the win for the Tigers 25-12. While Pacific jumped out to a 2-0 set lead, the Roadrunners gave the Tigers chase in the third. But the Tigers rallied and took the three set sweep.
 
The high intensity third set drew multiple ties, neither side conceding after numerous rallies. Spurred on by the crowd, the Tigers finally claimed victory 28-26 to complete the match sweep of CSU Bakersfield 3-0.
 
Once again the Tigers had to dig in deep, as the Roadrunners went up 20-15. Though CSU Bakersfield got to 20 first, Pacific went on a 7-1 run to reclaim the lead 22-21. But the Roadrunners weren't backing down and the two teams fought for the lead, when a kill from senior Darina Kumanova forced match point. However, three more ties came in the closing moments of the match.
 
The Tigers victory was jump started by senior Alexa Edwards' kill to tie it 26-26. Sophomore Logan Blutreich followed suit to put the Tigers up 27-26. A miss by CSU Bakersfield granted the Tigers their match winning point to claim victory 28-26.
 
"We always try to be the first to get to 20," head coach Greg Gibbons said. "That's why in a lot of our practice we spend time playing through when they earn the 20 points first. From there, we say let's battle it out. It's the first one to five."
 
He added, "I like the fight the girls are having, no matter which 20, we are really turning up our game. We call that our competitive greatness, where we bring out our best when our best is needed."
 
Fresno State (5-5) and Sacramento State (7-6) competed earlier this afternoon. The Bulldogs claimed the 3-0 sweep, 25-22, 25-15, 26-24. The Hornets take on Pacific tomorrow at 3 p.m. Fresno State and CSU Bakersfield meet early Saturday for the noon match for the final day of the Central Cal Challenge.