Boxers Struggle Offensively In Straight Set Loss To Pirates
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FOREST GROVE – Adjusting to life without their top outside hitter, Pacific struggled to get the offense clicking as the Boxers fell in three sets to Whitworth, 25-15, 25-17, 25-16, in Northwest Conference volleyball action at the Stoller Center.
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Playing without
Marie Rewick (So., Honolulu, Hawaii), who was lost for the season last night with an apparent knee injury, the Boxers f(2-9, 1-3 NWC) ound themselves limited to just 20 kills and a .033 hitting percentage. The Pirates also limited Pacific to just 15 points off their own serve.
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For their part, Whitworth (9-7, 3-1 NWC) hit an impressive .217 for the match and hit .250 in both the first and third sets.
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Una Areta (Fr., Kent, Wash.) led the Boxers for the second time in many nights with nine kills to go along with nine digs.Â
Jamie Steach (Fr., Pasco, Wash.) had 15 assists while
Becky Sheller (So., Gresham, Ore.) had 17 digs while moving for the first time from libero to outside hitter.
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Nicole Leonard led three Whitworth players in double digit kills with 11 to go along with 18 digs. Kristine Kardell and Briauna Stadeli finished with 10 kills apiece. Maddye Dinsmore collected 34 assists and seven digs.Â
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A pair of big runs early in the first set provided all of the cushion that Whitworth would need for the win. The first, fueled by two Leonard kills and two attack errors, opened up the 5-1 lead while Anna Buck served the Pirates to six straight winners, including three service aces, for the commanding 13-3 lead. Pacific managed to come back within 18-14 on an Areta kill, but another four-point run all but closed out the 25-15 win for the Bucs.
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Pacific kept things close early in the second set. Coming back from as much as three points down, Sheller tied the frame at 6-6. The Pirates stunted the comeback with a five-point run, fueled by two Stadeli kills, opened up the 11-6 lead. Pacific would come back to within three points midway through the set, but the Pirates amassed as much as a seven-point lead down the stretch to go on to the 25-17 victory.
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Whitworth again used a pair of big runs to make sure that they would secure the straight set victory. Pacific held the 5-2 lead before a four-point lead gave the Pirates the 6-5 lead. A second four-point run, bolstered by a pair of Pacific attack errors, made it a 10-6 lead and a subsequent six-point run, three on Leonard kills, made it a commanding 16-8 lead. The Boxers would go down by as much a 11 points late before Whitworth closed out the 25-16 win.
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Pacific is on the road against Willamette Valley foes next weekend, playing at Willamette on Friday and Linfield on Saturday. Whitworth will host the Tacoma area schools, hosting Puget Sound on Friday and Pacific Lutheran on Saturday.
