Boxers Lose Block, Lose Four-Set Match To Whitworth
Box Score
FOREST GROVE – A potentially momentum-setting first set was wiped out by a key injury to the Pacific lineup Saturday as the Boxers fell to defending champion Whitworth in four sets, 22-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-15, in
Pacific (12-7, 6-4 NWC) won a close first set thank in part to the hot hand of
Alexa Block (Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), who had six kills in the frame before having to leave the match with an apparent shoulder injury. The Pirates (14-5, 9-1 NWC) took advantage of the hole in the lineup, getting by in a close second set before coasting to win the third and fourth sets easily.
Kelsy Takashima (Sr., Kaunakakai, Hawaii) led Pacific 10 kills and five blocks.
Mariah McHolland (So., Renton, Wash.) added nine kills and
Haley Bedell (Fr., Bothell, Wash.) added eight.
Jade Thompson (Jr., Marysville, Wash.) contributed 17 digs and
Malea Webb (Fr., Spokane, Wash.) had 22 assists to go along with three blocks.
Kaimi Rocha led a spirited Whitworth attack with 16 kills and 17 digs. Amanda Grumbach finished with 13 kills and 17 digs and Ka'ipo Rocha added 11 kills. Bree Riddle finished with 47 assists.
Pacific was cruising early in the first set, building as much as a 12-6 lead on a Whitworth attack error. The Pirates closed back to within 14-12 on Kaimi Rocha's kill and eventually took a 23-22 lead on a Pacific attack error.
Jowell Guerreiro (Fr., Kailua, Hawaii) tied the frame and McHolland and Bedell scored kills to close the set in favor of Pacific.
The Boxers started strong in the second set as well, going ahead 12-9 on a Bedell kill. The Pirates slowly climbed back into the frame, tying it at 15-15 on a Pacific attack error and pulled ahead at 17-16 on Grumbach's service ace. Pacific pulled to within one twice down the stretch, but could come no closer.
Whitworth never trailed in the third set, putting the frame away with a string of five winners from Bree Riddle. The Rocha sisters combined for three kills in the run to build an 18-13 lead. Pacific pulled back to within three on a Takashima kill, but the Pirates held strong for the win.
The story was much the same in the fourth set, with the Pirates pulling ahead 8-2 on Ka'ipo Rocha's kill. Whitworth closed the match by winning the final 10 points, four of which came on kills by Jalana White.
Pacific returns to action next weekend, travelling to Tacoma on Friday to face Puget Sound. Whitworth returns home and will host Linfield on Friday.
