FOREST GROVE, Ore.- The Pacific volleyball team is set to begin the 2021 campaign using a healthy dose of returning players while also adding new talent to help boost their roster depth. Head Coach
Kip Yoshimura will be entering his ninth complete season atop the Pacific volleyball program as he comes off a second-place finish in the Northwest Conference in 2019.
"We're looking forward to a great year," Yoshimura said. "We're looking to build on the success we had this spring and the last few years. We have some experience in some key spots but we also have some freshman that are eager to get on the court and have a full season."
With Covid-19 restricting play in 2020, the Boxers last full season was 2019, in which they achieved a 17-9 record overall while going 10-6 in Northwest Conference action. Pacific was only able to play eight contests in the spring of 2021 in which they went 6-2.
"We are also looking forward to the debut of our new assistant coach,
Savannah Cox," Yoshimura said. "She didn't get a full season last year so she's looking forward to a fresh, new season to continue the success of Boxer volleyball."
Defense
Pacific will be led in 2021 by three-year starting Libero,
Haley Walz (Senior/Tucson, AZ), who is returning following a Spring 2021 campaign where she was second in the NWC averaging 5.45 digs per set. The Boxers will return two key contributors to their blocking system at the middle blocker position.
Charlotte Powell (Corvallis, MT) led the Boxers in blocks per set with an impressive average of .89 per set, while
Elika Unti (Senior/Castro Valley, CA) posted an average of .69 blocks per set in the shortened season.
Carissa Ramirez (Senior/ Hillsboro, OR) will also prove to be a defensive threat for the Boxers in her fourth season.
Offense
Pacific will utilize new talent this year at the outside hitter position following the graduations of
Jordan Zweifel and
Nanea Lum. In the 2021 shortened season, newcomer
Claire Stipsits (Sophomore/Burlington, Ontario, Canada) became a reliable point scorer for the Boxers as an outside hitter. They anticipate significant contributions from new players on both pins in the upcoming season. At the setting position, they return
Shaianne Cambra (Junior/Kapolei, HI) and
Emily Cheavtharn (Sophomore/ Salem, OR).
The Boxers will host Multnomah University to start the season on Sep. 1 before heading to St. Paul, Minn. to continue the non-conference portion of the 2021 season.
For the latest information on Pacific Athletics, make sure to check out GoBoxers.com. You can also find the Boxers on social media at @GoBoxers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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