Big Blocking Night Leads Boxers To Win
Box Score
FOREST GROVE—The Pacific volleyball team had a record setting night tallying 17 total blocks and hit an efficient .281 over the four-set match to claim their second Northwest Conference win over the Lewis & Clark Pioneers, 25-18, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23.
“The difference tonight was we didn't wait for them to lose,” said head coach Lena Chan. “We wanted to win and went after it.”
The Boxers (3-13) collected 17 total team blocks over the four-set match to break the school record of 16 total blocks set in two matches by the 2006 team. Freshmen middle hitters, Mariah McHolland (Renton, Wash.) and Lychelle Roberts-Kirby (Kent, Wash.) had eight block assists apiece and Alexa Block (So., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) contributed one solo block and three block assists.
To go with her strong night of blocking, Roberts-Kirby had 10 kills and hit a steamy .643. Outside hitter, Block led Pacific with 16 kills and had 14 digs, while right-side hitter Kelsey Takashima (Kaunakakai, Hawaii) added 11 kill. Setter Danica Thompson (Fr., Sisters, Ore.) had 52 assists and libero Jade Thompson (So., Marysville, Wash.) made 23 digs.
“Lychelle was on fire, not only hitting, but blocking as well,” states Chan. “Danica also played well and made great set decisions”
Pacific's volleyball team came out of the gates strong running off six straight points in the first set before a hitting error gave Lewis & Clark (7-12) their first chance to serve. To finish the set Pacific went on an 8-3 run to win the first set 25-18.
In the second set, the Boxers hit .469 as a team while tallying 17 kills on the way to winning 25-17.
The Boxers had a small loss of momentum in the third set and letting the Pioneers go on a 12-4 run to build up a 24-17 lead. Pacific then held Lewis & Clark for four straight match points before Margaret Dowling put down a kill to give the Pioneers a 25-21 set victory.
Pacific bounced back in the fourth set. After taking the lead 7-6 they never trailed again and won 25-23 to claim the match 3-1 victory.
Chan thought the mindset of her team was different tonight. “We were the aggressor,” she said. “We worked for the next point.”
The Boxers will return to the court to host Willamette next Friday at 7 p.m.
