Boxers Drop Final Two At Trinity Fall Classic
Pacific/Christopher Newport Box Score | Pacific/East Texas Baptist Box Score
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Pacific closed out its Texas road trip Saturday with two more losses, taking a three-set defeat to No. 13 ranked Christopher Newport and a five-set loss to East Texas Baptist in volleyball action at the Trinity Univ. Fall Classic at Sams Gymnasium.
The Boxers (1-7) found themselves unable to get anything going on the hitting side after a hard-fought first set, dropping in three sets to Christopher Newport 25-23, 25-22, 25-8. Pacific came back to give East Texas Baptist a battle in the second match before the Tigers surged late in the fifth to collect the 25-21, 18-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-9 victory.
Pacific came to play with Christopher Newport (6-1) in the opening set, hitting .389 for the set with 17 kills against three errors. The Captains also brought their best game, though, smashing 18 kills in the frame with a .359 percentage. The Boxers tied the set twice, at 4-4 on a Mariah McHolland (Fr., Renton, Wash.) kill and at 5-5 on a Claire Carpenter (Fr., Escondido, Calif.) kill. The Captains did just enough to keep ahead, though, surging behind two services and four straight points for a 10-6 lead.
Pacific came close again late, coming within 24-23 on Alexa Block (So., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) kill, but Kara Elder closed it out to give Christopher Newport the 25-23 victory.
Both teams posted negative hitting percentage in the second set, with the Boxers connecting on just three kills. The Captains surged to a 10-2 lead thanks in part to four Pacific attack errors. The Boxers came within three points late, 20-17, on Kelsy Takashima's (Jr., Kaunakakai, Hawaii) service ace, but would come no closer. Christopher Newport regained their form in the third set, putting together strings of five and 11 straight points to make the win easy.
Takashima led Pacific offensively with six kills and four blocks. Danica Thompson (Fr., Sisters, Ore.) added 19 assists and Jade Thompson (So., Marysville, Wash.) registered 14 digs. Cory Harris led Christopher Newport with 10 kills.
After dropping the first set against East Texas Baptist, Pacific put together a strong second set. Danica Thompson served Pacific to a 10-6 lead thanks to a bad set and Block's kill extended the advantage to 20-13. The Tigers came no closer than five points the rest of the way as the Boxers collected the 25-18 win.
The Tigers claimed a marathon third set before Pacific had one of their best hitting sets of the season, smashing 16 kills and a .394 attack percentage. The Boxers broke open a close frame with a string of five straight points, two off of Tigers' attack errors, for a 15-9 lead. East Texas Baptist came back to take the 20-19 lead on a Breann Whitaker service ace, but Carpenter served the Boxers to three straight to help secure the 25-22 win.
Pacific stayed within striking distance in the deciding set until late. Pacific trailed 10-8 when the Tigers won five straight points, two off of Amy Wooten kills, to secure the win.
Block led the Boxers with 14 kills and 15 digs and Keahi Braginsky-Ahloo (Fr., Wahiawa, Hawaii) added 10 kills as the Boxers hit .210 for the match. Danica Thompson added 43 assists while Jade Thompson had 17 digs.
Pacific now turns its attention to the Northwest Conference schedule. The Boxers on Wednesday, traveling to McMinnville to face Linfield.
