MORAGA, Calif. – Pacific came alive after the second set, but the slow start proved too much for the Tigers to defeat Saint Mary's on Thursday night, falling in four sets (13-25, 11-25, 26-24, 23-25) at the UCU Pavilion.

After swinging for only 11 kills in sets one and two, Pacific (8-18, 2-13 WCC) roared back with 12 kills in set three and 13 in set four while simultaneously constricting the Gaels (10-16, 8-7 WCC) to a .111 hitting percentage in set three and a negative clip in set four. Leading that second half renaissance was freshman Mazi Smith who swung for nine of her team leading 11 kills in the latter two sets, highlighted by five in set three alone.

Sophomore Alyson Cox was a steady presence throughout the match, notching two or three kills in every set. More than a pure offensive threat, the sophomore flashed her versatility with a final line of ten kills, 14 assists, one service ace, one solo block, a block assist and nine digs.

Cox was only one of the options setting for Pacific as sophomore Alessia Couchond paced the Tigers to the tune of 16 assists. She also finished with six digs.

Holding down the Pacific back row was the combo of freshman Bella Gutierrez and senior Jayhlin Swain who both eclipsed ten digs – the former of whom loves playing against the Gaels. Gutierrez' career-high digs entering the match was 13, set against Saint Mary's back in October. The freshman is now leaving Moraga with a new career-best of 14 digs and has been on a tear for the team with double digit digs in two of the last three matches.

The latter has been a threat in back row both defensively and offensively. Defending the Tigers, she added another 12 digs to her name while offensively extended her streak of service aces to three straight matches.

Meanwhile graduate Valentina Varani got three blocks closer to her 100th block of the season, notching a solo and two block assists.

In the next match Pacific heads a little further west to face San Francisco to face the Dons at the Sobrato Center. First ball is set for noon on ESPN+.

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