Boxers Hit Hard, Defend Well In Three-Set Sweep of Linfield
Box Score |
Coach Chan's Postgame Comments
FOREST GROVE – Volleyball matches between Pacific and Linfield have been known to be four and five-set marathons. That was not the case on Saturday as the Boxers showed impressive ability in both the hitting and defensive departments to sweep the Wildcats, 25-21, 25-14, 25-21, at the Stoller Center.
Pacific's victory over Linfield was their first since 2004 and was only the fourth time in the last 12 meetings that the match went the minimum three sets. With the victory, the Boxers (10-5, 4-2 NWC) moved into a three-way for second place in the Northwest Conference with nationally-ranked Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran.
The Boxers won the match with a solid attack, connecting for a .239 hitting percentage.
Haley Bedell (Fr., Bothell, Wash.) and
Kelsy Takashima (Sr., Kaunakakai, Hawaii) led the Boxers with 12 kills apiece, with Takashima connecting for a .400 hitting percentage.
Alexa Block (Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) added 10 kills.
Jade Thompson (Jr., Marysville, Wash.) was impressive defensively, coming up with a match-high 20 digs.
Malea Webb (Fr., Spokane, Wash.) added 27 assists.
“We tried to keep the fact that it was Linfield out of equation,” said Pacific Head Coach Lena Chan. “We matched them well to open the first, but we then found ways to take away their strengths.”
Kailana Ritte-Camara led Linfield (7-8, 2-4 NWC) with eight kills while Kelsy Ludin registered seven. Samantha Lau had 20 digs and Audrey Frazier finished with 23 assists.
A closely played first half started going the Boxers' way late. The Boxers were down 16-15 when a Linfield error started a string of five straight Pacific points that effectively put the frame out of reach. Webb and Takashima both registered kills in the run that gave Pacific a 20-16 lead, and a subsequent string of three more kills made it a 23-17 advantage. Linfield came back to within 24-21 in a Ludin kill before a service error gave the Boxers the 25-21 win.
The second set also started close. The frame was tied 10-10 when a Bedell kill started a string of five straight Pacific points, which was buoyed by three Linfield attack errors. Pacific owned a 19-14 lead when the Boxers scored the final six points of the set, which included a Takashima service ace and three Linfield attack errors for a convincing 25-14 win.
Pacific never trailed in the third set, building an 11-5 lead on Block's service ace and then made it a 17-9 advantage on a Linfield attack error. The Boxers owned a 22-16 lead when Linfield made a run to force a fourth set, closing to within 24-20 on a Pacific attack error. Another attack error made it 24-21 before Takashima put things away for the Boxers.
Pacific hits the road again next weekend, traveling to Willamette on Friday and Pacific Lutheran on Saturday. Linfield will travel to face Pacific Lutheran on Friday.
