Boxers Secure Split To Finish Up Southern California Trip
Pacific/Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Box Score |
Pacific/East Texas Baptist Box Score
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – For the second weekend in a row, Pacific finished up with a 3-1 record in a tournament as the Boxers split their final two games at the Cal Lutheran Posada Royale Tournament, Saturday at the Soiland Center.
In Pacific's Saturday opener, the Boxers watched Claremont-Mudd-Scripps come back from two sets down to rally and win in five sets, 22-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-13, 15-11. The Boxers rebounded in their closing match, using four sets to beat East Texas Baptist 23-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-16.
With the win over East Texas Baptist, Pacific improves to 6-3 overall on the season. The start is the best for the Boxers since 2007 when the team also started 6-3 en-route to an eventual 14-9 finish.
The Boxers got the split and the three wins at Cal Lutheran's tournament while struggling through some injuries. Setter
Malea Webb (Fr., Spokane, Wash.) was injured in Friday's victory over Whittier and did not play in the Boxers' final three matches. Outside hitter
Alexa Block (Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) was injured in Saturday's third set against Claremont, but was able to continue in the tournament.
Pacific held control in their Saturday opener against the Athenas, winning the first two sets by a 25-22 score. The Boxers hit especially well in the second set, amassing a .333 percentage. Claremont rebounded to take a close 25-23 win in the third set before taking a convincing 25-13 fourth set. The Boxers hit .214 in the deciding frame, but it was not enough to take the win.
Keahi Braginsky-Ahloo (So., Wahiawa, Hawaii) led Pacific offensively with 16 kills and a .256 hitting percentage. Block added a double-double of 12 kills and 10 digs and
Kelsy Takashima (Sr., Kaunakakai, Hawaii) finished with 12 kills.
Gabriela Vega (Fr., Olympia, Wash.) had a double-double of 52 assists and 13 digs while
Mari Kondo (Sr., Ewa Beach, Hawaii) also had 13 digs.
After dropping their first set against East Texas Baptist, the Boxers rebounded take close frames in the second and third before coming up dominant in the fourth for the 25-16 victory. The Boxers amassed their best hitting performance of the tournament, hitting .276 as a team.
Bragkinsky-Ahloo once again led the Boxers with 15 kills while Takashima added 14 kills.
Mariah McHolland (So., Renton, Wash.) finished with 13 kills to go along with four blocks. Vega has another double-double of 42 assists and 13 digs.
Statistics for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and East Texas Baptist were not immediately available.
With the non-conference schedule completed, the Boxers now turn their attention to Northwest Conference opponents. Pacific opens the league schedule on the road, playing at Whitman on Friday and Whitworth on Saturday.
