LAS VEGAS - Down two sets and trailing 24-21 in the third, the Pacific volleyball team nearly pulled off an incredible five-set comeback against Iowa State in the season opener Friday but fell just short in a 22-25, 22-25, 31-29, 25-19, 10-15 final at Cox Pavilion.
 
Graduates Alexa Edwards and Darina Kumanova each led the Tigers with 17 kills apiece, as the pair went for double-doubles in digs and kills. Edwards led all Tigers with 14 digs on the day, while Kumanova picked up 10. 
 
Paving the way for the offense was senior setter Jenna Heller, who accrued 40 assists on the afternoon. Heller also tied graduate transfer Margherita Giani with three blocks to match her season high last year. Giani added seven kills in her Tiger debut.
 
Also showing out in her first match for the Tigers was junior libero Jayhlin Swain. The transfer was second on the team in digs and assists with 11 and five respectively.
 
Sophomore Shelby Gorospe earned her third ever start and hit .353 for nine kills on 17 attempts. She picked up her first career solo block in the effort. Junior Emily Van Groningen led all Tigers in hit percentage with 15 or more attacks, notching .400 on the day for eight kills.

As a team, the Tigers hit .203 to Iowa State's .232, collecting 61 kills to the Cyclones' 68. Each team nabbed six blocks, but the Tigers out-dug the Cyclones 59 to 56.
 
While the Cyclones clinched both opening sets, the Tigers were always within reach. They never trailed greater than three points and were frequently trading scores with the Cyclones, but could not get the edge. 
 
Iowa State held momentum heading into the third, jumping out to a six point lead. The Tigers tipped the scales back and swung hard, saving match point three times. Sophomore setter Dylan Gilkey tied the set 24-24 with an ace before Kumanova gave Pacific its first lead in the third with a kill. 
 
The Cyclones didn't shy away from the surge, but Edwards and Kumanova put the set away with back-to-back kills to take it 31-29. Pacific was reinvigorated through the second half of the fourth set, jumping out by as many as four before forcing set five 25-19.
 
The back-and-forth continued as the fifth set was tied 9-all before the Cyclones put the match away 15-10. 
 
Pacific returns for day two of the Rebel Challenge tournament, facing Northwestern at 1 p.m. Saturday.
 
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