Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Pacific University volleyball team split its two matches to begin its 2018 season at the Oregon Trail Tournament on Friday. The Boxers (1-1) started the season with a 25-10, 25-15, 25-19 straight set and convincing win over New Rochelle. In the nightcap, Pacific dropped a five-set contest to UW-Stout, who is picked to finish sixth in the WIAC (Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), 25-18, 21-25, 25-23, 19-25, 15-10.
 
The straight-set win over New Rochelle to begin the season is the first win by the Boxers in its season opener since 2011. In the win over the Blue Angels, freshman Haley Walz and junior Milana Ivkovic nearly set school records in the three-set win. Walz recorded a match-high 25 digs, just three shy of the record and Ivkovic had a match-high 16 kills on a sizzling .625 hitting percentage. The 16 kills were three away from the school record of 19.
 
In the win, as a team, Pacific hit .248 compared to .019 in the win. Plus, senior Ellie Parker had 35 assists, six digs and three aces. Ivkovic also had a hand on four blocks in the win.  
 
The final match of the day was full of energy and enthusiasm in a tightly-contested, five-set match. The visiting Blue Devils, who earlier in the day had won a five-set match over NWC member Whitman, were led by the double double performance of Amber Ripley, who had 16 kills and 23 digs to go along with three blocks.
 
Four Boxers recorded double double performances including Parker (41 assists, 16 digs), Morgan Mendicino (pictured) (18 kills, 16 digs), Jordan Zweifel (11 kills and 13 digs) and Karlee Duncan (16 kills and 18 digs). The 18 kills by Mendicino were a match-high to complement another match-high effort with four blocks.
 
After the two teams split the first four sets, the fifth set was indicative of the match. The set saw the Boxers race out to an early 7-3 lead in the set. However, a resilient UW-Stout squad came back with a 7-1 run to take its first lead of the set that prompted a Pacific timeout. The Boxers sought back the momentum when Mendicino hammered down a kill. However, the Blue Devils dashed the host Boxers comeback hopes en route to a 15-10 win in the final set.