Boxers Bounce Back To Beat Bearcats In Five

Boxers Bounce Back To Beat Bearcats In Five

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Box Score

SALEM, Ore. – Pacific showed just how resilient of a team they can be with their backs against the wall Friday night, coming back from a 6-0 deficit in the fifth set to claim the match from Willamette, 26-24, 19-25, 25-21, 19-25, 15-10, in Northwest Conference volleyball action at the Cone Field House.
 
After a tough battle through the first four sets, the Boxers found themselves in a 6-0 hole in the deciding frame on three kills by Kirsten Brehmer.  Pacific battled back to 7-4 and were within 10-6 when the Boxers went on a 9-0 run to win the match.  Jamie Steach (Fr., Pasco, Wash.) served eight of the winners while Una Areta (Fr., Kent, Wash.) had four of the kills, including the match-winner.
 
Areta led the Boxers (3-9, 2-4 NWC) offensively with her first collegiate double-double of 24 kills and 19 digs, while Mariah McHolland (Sr., Renton, Wash.) had a season-best match of 21 kills, a .400 hitting percentage and three assists.  Emily Farnham (So., University Place, Wash.) finished with 48 assists and Becky Sheller (So., Gresham, Ore.) contributed 29 digs.  As a team, Pacific finished hitting .144.
 
Sarah Fincher led Willamette (5-10, 1-5 NWC) with a double-double of 25 kills and 18 digs while Bremher had a double-double of 12 kills and 15 digs.  Emily Compton her own double-double of 48 assists and 11 digs.  The Bearcats finished hitting .202 for the match.
 
Pacific pulled ahead from a 3-2 deficit in the opening set with a six-point run, two on attack errors and a pair of kills from Areta, to take an 8-3 lead.  Willamette came back to tie the frame at 12-12 and tie held all of the way to 24-24 before Steach served Pacific out with two points, the last on an Areta kill for the 26-24 win.
 
The Boxers opened the second set with a 6-3 lead, two on McHolland kills and a pair of Willamette attack errors.  The Bearcats rebounded to take a 9-7 lead and went up 14-10 on a Pacific attack error.  Willamette opened the lead up to as much as 21-15 before going on to the 25-19 victory.
 
Pacific broke open a close third set with a four-point run midway through the frame, going ahead 14-10 on a block by McHolland and Hannah Herbert (So., Hillsboro, Ore.).  The Boxers went up 18-13 on Steach's service ace.  The margin held as the Boxers went on to the 25-21 win.
 
After building an 8-6 lead in the fourth set, Pacific tripped over four of their own attack errors to give the Bearcats a 12-9 lead.  A five-point later in the set improved the Willamette lead to 20-13 before going on to the 25-19 win to set up the deciding fifth set.

Pacific returns to action on Saturday, traveling to McMinnville to take on Linfield.
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