NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – In the Pacific debut of seven of volleyball's student-athletes, the Tigers rebounded from a first set loss to win the match in four-sets (22-25, 30-28, 25-12, 25-20) over the Cal Baptist Lancers in game one of The Ridge Invitational in Northridge, California hosted inside CSUN's Premier America Credit Union Arena.

Graduate Olivia Keller announced her presence in her first game in a Pacific (1-0) uniform, pacing all players with 19 kills while also breaking her previous career-best (15 vs. Boise State in 2022) in the category. The match is also Keller's most heavily featured of her career, garnering 38 total attacks, eclipsing the 35 she got against Colorado State in 2022. She finished with a solo block and nine digs on her final ledger as well.

Aiding Keller on the Pacific attack, freshman Hannah Koester swung an efficient .409 from the court on her way to 12 kills in 22 attempts in her first collegiate appearance – while also adding two block assists and three digs.

As a team, the Tigers hit .200 on the match as Pacific has now hit .200 or better from the court in six of the last eight matches dating back to last season.

Allowing for the efficient Pacific offense was largely helped by sophomore Alessia Couchond who facilitated 38 assists across the four sets, breaking her previous career-high 33 set last season.

Opposite the Tiger attack, Cal Baptist (0-1) was completely flummoxed by Pacific's defense as the Lancers were held to a .072 final clip – the first time Pacific has held an opponent under .100 since October 12, 2024 against Gonzaga. Behind the low Lancer hitting percentage was a Pacific 52-39 edge in digs led by senior Jayhlin Swain's 17.

However, many Lancer attacks didn't need dug as the Tiger block was stout behind graduate Valentina Varani's seven total blocks and sophomore Alyson Cox's four.

Senior Logan Blutreich, making her first appearance since the 2023 season, also added three total blocks to the winning effort to go alongside her seven kills.

Freshmen Mazi Smith and Bella Gutierrez both also saw action in their collegiate debuts – contributing four digs and a kill respectively.

Pacific will retake the court tomorrow against host CSUN on ESPN+ at 6 p.m.

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