STOCKTON, Calif. – After a calendar month on the road, the Pacific volleyball program returns home to the Alex G. Spanos Center for its home opener against LMU on Thursday night at 6 p.m. followed by a match with San Diego on Saturday at noon.

Thursday's home opener is the first time LMU (3-8, 1-1 WCC) and Pacific (6-7, 0-2 WCC) have met since the Tigers handed the Lions one of only two conference blemishes last season. Matches played in Stockton have favored the Tigers, as the team holds a 10-4 advantage over LMU in the series history.

The only returning player who played more than 20 home sets last season, senior Jayhlin Swain averaged 4.56 digs per set at home last season. This season, the senior continues to march closer to 1,000 career digs, entering the weekend with 992.

Graduate Olivia Keller has emerged as the focal point of the Tigers offense, ranking eighth in the conference in kills per set at 3.23. Through the opening 13 matches of the season, Keller has set new career-highs in kills (21 vs. EWU), service aces (two vs. UNCW) and points scored (23.5 vs. EWU).

Opposite Keller, redshirt freshman Mila Stojakovic established herself as a rising force in the conference. Since entering the starting rotation in Nevada, Stojakovic has contributed two kills per set and has eight service aces in those seven matches.

Defense has also played a large role in the Pacific game script, as the team sported the second toughest defense in the conference in September. The Tigers held their opponents to a .189 hitting percentage in the month while LMU sported the third lowest hitting percentage offensively at .169.

Anchoring the defense in the middle is graduate Valentina Varani, who currently ranks third in the conference in blocks per set and second in total blocks. The Rome, Italy native has gone for five or more blocks in seven of the 13 contests this season.

Saturday against San Diego (9-4, 2-0 WCC), a Pacific win would be the first in the series since 2021, which did take place inside the Spanos Center. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.

Tigers Tickets
Tickets for upcoming events can be purchased through the PacificTigers.com tickets tab, or by calling the Box Office at 209-946-2474.  Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a group discount and exclusive fan experiences.
 
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