After a tightly contested first set, the Pacific University volleyball team went on to hit .235 in the next three sets to post a 25-27, 25-23, 25-13, 25-20 win over Lewis & Clark on Saturday night in Forest Grove.
The Boxers (12-10, 6-6 NWC) were led by senior
Tiare Kaopua (Nanakuli, Hawai'i), who had a match-high 17 kills, plus juniors
Kelly Wahl (Richland, Wash.), sophomore
Morgan Mendicino (San Diego, Calif.) and freshman
Karlee Duncan (Bend, Ore.) each added eight kills. Setting the attack was senior
Jamie Steach (Pasco, Wash.), who also had five kills in the win. Plus, Pacific libero
Lia Zablan (Ewa Beach, Hawai'i) had 29 digs, including 10 in the third set.
The Pioneers (4-15, 3-9 NWC) picked up a double double from Julia Somers, who had 14 kills and 13 digs in the defeat.
The first set went and back and forth, but a pair of kills by Somers and a service ace allowed the visitors to take the opening set, 27-25. Pacific found itself behind as much as seven on a pair of occasions in the second set. A resilient Boxers squad started a comeback and rallied to tie the set at both 19 and 21. Back-to-back kills by Kaopua and Wahl put Pacific ahead 23-21 and for the first time in the set. The Boxers never relinquished the lead and Mendicino ended the set with a decisive kill on a Steach set to even the match at a set apiece.
Following the intermission, the Boxers dominated the set with Duncan and Kaopua each recording three kills to lead Pacific, who out hit the Pioneers by a .323 to .028 margin en route to a 25-13 victory. In the fourth set, Pacific found itself behind 7-2 to prompt a timeout by head coach
Kip Yoshimura. The Boxers responded to its veteran head coach, rallying to tie the set on a pair of occasions and eventually taking a lead on a error by the Pioneers. To take the lead, the Boxers went on an decisive 8-1 run to secure the set and the victory in the match.
Next, the Boxers host George Fox on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Stoller Center. Earlier this year, the Bruins defeated Pacific in four in Newberg on Sept. 28.
