FRESNO, Calif. – Winning a non-conference tournament for the third weekend in a row, the Pacific volleyball program registered a 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-17) victory over Sacramento State on Sunday at Save Mart Arena.
 
It marked the ninth straight win for the Tigers (10-2), who previously won the Charleston Classic and GCU Classic the last two weekends. Pacific is on its longest winning-streak since 2014 when it won 10 consecutive matches.
 
The accolades continued to pour in for graduate Alexa Edwards, who was named the Tournament MVP for the second straight tournament. Edwards, the reigning West Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Week winner, has earned three straight All-Tournament distinguishments.
 
Earning All-Tournament honors for the second straight weekend were senior Jenna Heller and junior Emily Van Groningen. Heller averaged 10.91 assists per set and hit .583 on 24 attacks, while Groningen tallied 2.0 kills and 1.0 blocks per frame.
 
It was the non-conference finale for the Tigers, who downed Fresno State 3-1 and CSU Bakersfield 3-0 the last two days.
 
Edwards registered a double-double of 20 kills and 11 digs. Heller etched a double-double of 37 assists and 15 digs and put-away six kills on eight attacks. Graduate Darina Kumanova reached double-figures in kills with 11.
 
After dropping the first set, Pacific darted out to an 11-6 edge in the second on a kill by Kumanova. The Tigers were still in front 17-11 on a kill by Heller and finished it off 25-18 on a big attack by Edwards.
 
Pacific had to play from behind early in the third after digging a 10-4 hole. Still trailing 14-10, the Tigers reeled off five in a row on Kumanova's serve as an ace put them ahead 15-14. Tied late at 22-22, Pacific won the critical final three points of the set which included kills by Heller and senior Abby Miller to win it.
 
The Tigers pulled away from Sacramento State midway through the fourth as an ace by Van Groningen put them ahead 15-9. The Hornets could never flip momentum in the frame as Pacific stayed in front 23-16 on a block by graduate Margherita Giani and Edwards. Another block by Giani ended the match.
 
Pacific is now 31-7 all-time against Sacramento State.
 
The Tigers will open West Coast Conference play Thursday with a 6 p.m. road match at LMU. Pacific's first three WCC matches are on the road before playing the home opener Saturday, Oct. 5 at 12 p.m. against Santa Clara.
 
All-Tournament Team
MVP - Alexa Edwards, Pacific
Emily Van Groningen, Pacific
Jenna Heller, Pacific
Addison Haluska, Fresno State
Ella Rud, Fresno State
Bridgette Smith, Sac State 
Nene Hawkins, CSU Bakersfield

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