DENVER, Colo. – The Pacific volleyball team (4-9, 0-1 WCC) dropped its first West Coast Conference contest of the season in a 3-0 decision at Denver (8-5, 1-0 WCC) Thursday evening at Hamilton Gymnasium.
Nicole Zake paced Pacific offensively, recording a team-high nine kills while adding two assists and five digs.
Hanna Vorhies posted an efficient .389 with seven kills on 18 attempts and added four block assists to help lead the Tigers' defensive front.
Bella Gutierrez and
Alessia Couchond recorded double-digit digs, led by Gutierrez, totaling a match-best 15. Along with her 10 digs, Couchond added 17 assists for her third-straight double-double and sixth of the season. Gutierrez also reached the 200-dig mark, ranking her second-best in the WCC behind Denver's Madison Winkler.
Pacific opened a two-point lead in the early stages of the first set, as
Vanessa Zussino totaled two kills to help guide the Tigers to a 5-3 lead. The Pioneers continued to keep the frame close before using a 7-4 scoring run to take a 20-16 advantage. Despite Pacific trimming the deficit to three, 23-20, Denver concluded with back-to-back points to secure the first set, 25-20.
In a back-and-forth second set, Pacific erased a three-point deficit to tie the frame at 23. The Tigers quickly gained the lead at 27-25 after two straight kills from
Adeline Sirbu and Zake. Denver ended the Tigers' momentum and totaled three straight points to end the set, 29-27.
Denver dominated the final frame, holding Pacific's offense in check to secure the set and match, 25-13.
Pacific returns to league play at noon on Saturday, Sept. 26, when it takes on defending WCC champions San Diego at Jenny Craig Pavilion.
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