The Pacific University volleyball team started its Homecoming weekend with a 25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-8 win over Whitman on Friday night at the Stoller Center in Forest Grove.
 
The Boxers (11-8, 5-4 NWC) picked up significant selfless contributions throughout the lineup for the win. Senior Tiare Kaopua (Nanakuli, Hawai'i) had 24 kills and a .321 hitting percentage to lead Pacific. The hot-hitting senior was joined in the hitting parade by freshman Karlee Duncan (Bend, Ore.), who added 18 kills; plus Morgan Medndicino (San Diego, Calif.) and Bailey Servoss (Mount Vernon, Wash.) each added six kills as Pacific out hit Whitman, .184 to .109 in the win.
 
For the Boxers, Servoss also had a block solo and two block assists; plus senior Jamie Steach (Pasco, Wash.) had 50 assists and seven digs. Senior libero Lia Zablan (Ewa Beach, Hawai'i) had 25 digs to lead Pacific.
 
Whitman (8-9, 5-4 NWC) spread the attack between three-different players with Miranda Taylor registering a team-high 12 kills. Plus, Shae Kanakaole and Natalia Zea with 10 kills apiece. Whitman had 11 blocks in the defeat including seven by Zea, who had a block solo and six block assists. Codie Conching had a match-high 28 digs to lead Whitman.
 
Pacific started the match with a 25-18 win in the opening set with Duncan and Kaopue leading the attack with five and four kills, respectively. Whitman won the second set, 25-22 with Zea putting down five kills to even the match at a set.

The third set saw Pacific rally from a deficit as large as four before a 7-1 spurt put the Boxers ahead 20-18. In the spurt, four-different players for Pacific had a kill and the Boxers also picked up a service ace by Kierstin Evenson (Great Falls, Mont.). Following the seventh tie of the set, Pacific closed out the set on a 5-0 run to take the third set, 25-20. The fourth set was tied twice, but after Whitman regained the lead, the Boxers were only able to get as close as one. In the set, Kaopua had her second-straight set with six kills to lead Pacific.
 
In the fifth set, following the third tie, three-straight points by the Boxers put them ahead for the remainder of the set. Pacific closed out the set on a 6-2 run to secure its second-straight win in five sets and to extend the season winning streak to four.

Next, the Boxers will host Whitworth on Saturday at the Stoller Center at 5 p.m.