WALLA WALLA, Wash.- The Pacific University Volleyball team dismantled the Whitman College Blues Friday night in their first match of Northwest Conference play, 3-1.
 

The Boxer (3-4, 1-0 NWC) offense finally found their stride as they hit a season-high .215 and collected 51 kills in the four-set match. Mara Murphy (Freshman/Salt Lake City, UT) led the Boxers offensively as she tallied a career-high 16 kills on 32 attempts. Elika Unti (Senior/Castro Valley, CA) chipped in 12 kills while hitting .455 on the evening. Shaianne Cambra (Junior/Kapolei, HI) paced the well-balanced Boxer offense as she dished out a match-high 37 assists.
 

Per usual, Boxer libero Haley Walz posted a match-high number of digs with 28. The Boxer block sent back eight blocks on the evening, with Chloe Elmore (Senior/Salem, OR) collecting two solo blocks and two block assists on top of her seven kills in the match.

The teams would trade points to start the match but Pacific would eventually create some separation, using a 6-2 run to build a 15-9 lead in the opening set. Charlotte Powell (Junior/Corvallis, MT) and Murphy would each register a kill before Elmore closed the run with an ace to give her team some breathing room. The Boxers would cruise to take the first set 25-16.

The Blues would regain some momentum in the second set, using a pair of 3-0 runs to give themselves a commanding 17-12 lead. Pacific was unable to muster a rally and would drop the second set.

The Boxers would rebound in set number three by racing to an early 4-0 lead, beginning with kills from Unti and Elmore. While Pacific would find themselves in a very comfortable position, the hosts would manage a 5-0 run to cut a seven-point lead down to just two points. The Boxers fought back yet again, rallying for three 3-0 runs to win the third set 25-19.

The fourth set would prove to be much more back-and-forth, but the Boxers would prevail after a massive 4-0 run sparked by kills from Powell and Cambra would give the visitors an 18-11 advantage. Pacific would not look back, notching another 25-19 set victory to take the match and earn their first conference win.

The Boxers will travel to Spokane, Wash. on Saturday to take on Whitworth at 5 p.m.

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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