Oct. 8, 2005
Stockton, Calif. - After earning a hard fought 35-33 win in game one, the Pacific Tigers women's volleyball team swept UC Irvine, 3-0, on Saturday, Oct. 8. Game scores for the match were 35-33, 30-22, 30-17. With the win, the Tigers moved to 9-7 on the season and 3-1 in Big West Conference play, while the Anteaters fell to 6-11 overall and 0-4 in conference.
UC Irvine took an early lead in the game with six of the first eight points. The Tigers battled back behind consecutive kills by senior Ashley Groothuis (Aurora, Neb.) to cut the deficit to 6-4. Moments later, Pacific pulled even at 9-9 on a kill from senior Sidney Bennett (Louisvile, Ky.). The game remained close the rest of the way as the two teams battled through 11 ties. The final tie came at 33-33. The turning point in the match came during the next two points. Groothuis gave Pacific the lead at 34-33 with a kill from the right side. Sophomore Kara Uhl (Cypress, Calif.) helped the Tigers capitilize on their fourth game point with a kill from the left side to take a 1-0 lead in the match, 35-33.
Pacific raised their intensity in game two, posting a .500 hitting percentage. The Tigers 22 kills propelled Pacific to a 2-0 lead in the match with a 30-22 win.
The Tigers continued to apply offensive pressure in the third and final game as the Tigers hit .438, but it was Pacific's defense that made the difference. The Tigers held UC Irvine to a .103 hitting percentage in game three, forcing six errors in 29 swings. The Tigers took the match by winning game three, 30-17.
Groothuis led Pacific as she had 26 kills and 11 digs for her seventh double-double of the season and third consecutive. Bennett finished with 13 kills, while Uhl had 10 kills. The Anteaters were led by Kristin Kelly, who had 13 kills.
Pacific will be back in action on Friday, Oct, 14 as the Tigers travel to San Luis Obispo, Calif. to take on Cal Poly at 7 p.m.