Boxers Hit Well, But Can't Get Past PLU
Box Score
FOREST GROVE – Pacific showed glimpses of brilliance against the defending Northwest Conference champions Saturday, but the Boxers could not get past a consistent Pacific Lutheran squad as the Lutes won in three sets, 25-19, 25-15, 25-22, in volleyball action at the Pacific Athletic Center.
The Boxers (1-11, 0-4 NWC) put together a solid hitting night, connecting for a .261 percentage and hit a season-high .424 in the third set, but could not get past a Pacific Lutheran attack that was very consistent. The Lutes (10-3, 4-0 NWC) hit .347 for the match and no worse than .333 in any single set.
Kelsy Takashima (Jr., Kaunakakai, Hawaii) led the Boxers with 13 kills and hit .600 for the match as she committed just one error on 20 attempts. Danica Thompson (Fr., Sisters, Ore.) added 35 assists and Jade Thompson (So., Marysville, Wash.) had 17 digs.
Kelsie Moore led PLU with 10 kills and eight digs while Erin Bremond finished with nine kills. Sarah Beaver added 37 assists.
Both Pacific and PLU did their part to keep the first set close early. The Lutes led 13-12 when Beth Hanna's kill allowed PLU to win seven of the next eight points, three on Pacific errors, to build a commanding 20-13 lead. The Boxers closed to within five late, 24-19 on a kill by Keahi Braginsky-Ahloo (Fr., Wahiawa, Hawaii) before Hanna knocked it home for the 25-19 win.
PLU made sure the second set was done at the start, winning the first nine points of the set. Anna Buck connected for three aces, while Bremond and Moore added two kills apiece before a service error gave the ball to the Boxers. Pacific managed to keep pace, coming within six when Alexa Block's (So., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) kill made it 16-10. The Boxers scored just two more points off of their own serve from there as the Lutes rolled to the 25-15 win.
The Boxers played their best ball of the night in the third set, hitting .424 while committing just two errors. Pacific trailed by as much as five early before rallying back to take a 15-13 lead on Braginsky-Ahloo's kill. The Lutes tied it at 18-18 on a Pacific service error before Hanna served the Lutes to three straight winners for a 21-18 lead. Pacific would come within 23-21 before Moore closed the match with a kill for the win.
Pacific returns to the home court next weekend as they host the eastern Washington schools. The Boxers host Whitworth on Friday at 7 p.m. and host Whitman on Saturday at 5 p.m.
