Nov. 26, 2005
Stockton, Calif. --- The Pacific women's volleyball team closed out its 2005 regular season schedule with a five-game loss to Saint Mary's in the consolation match of the 27th Annual Community Bankers Classic on Saturday, Nov. 26, at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
Game scores were 20-30, 30-25, 25-30, 30-24, and 15-11. With the loss, the Tigers concluded their 2005 regular season at 16-14. Saint Mary's improved to 19-9.
Pacific got off to a hot start right out of the locker room as the Tigers stormed out to an 11-3 lead. Senior Sidney Bennett (Louisville, Ky.) and junior Allison Ianni (East Lansing, Mich.) led the way as the duo combined for five kills. Ianni also dished out three assists during the run. Pacific didn't look back in the first game, taking it 30-20.
Saint Mary's turned the tables on Pacific in game two, scoring the first seven points and holding the Tigers to a .116 hitting percentage as the Gaels evened the match at one game with a 30-25 win.
Game three stayed close throughout the early portion of the game. Leading 19-18, the Tigers scored four consecutive points on back-to-back attack errors from the Gaels, followed by kills from Ianni and senior Ashley Groothuis (Aurora, Neb.). Staked to a 23-18 advantage, the Tigers went on to take a two-to-one lead in the match, 30-25.
Saint Mary's once again got out to an early lead in game four and never relinquished it, as the Gaels scored eight of the first 11 points to lead 8-3. Pacific pulled within two points on two occasions but the Tigers were unable to get even, forcing a fifth game as Saint Mary's took game four, 30-24.
The Gaels took the early advantage for a third time in game five as Saint Mary's led 10-4. The Tigers battled back to within three points at 13-10, but Saint Mary's took the game and the match on a kill by Christina Kirk.
Groothuis led the way for the Tigers as she was one of five Tigers to reach double figures in kills with a team-high 18 kills. She also picked up 19 digs for her 16th double-double of the season and 33rd in her career. With her 18 kills, Groothuis moved into sole possession of fourth place on Pacific's all-time kills list, passing former Tiger Elaina Oden (1985-86, 1988-89). Groothuis currently has 1,491 kills in her career. She also moved over the 900 dig mark, as she has 913 digs.
Ianni also had a magnificent individual performance, notching her first career triple-double with 12 kills, 23 digs and 58 assists.
Saint Mary's got a match-high 22 kills from Missie Stidham.
In the championship match of the 2005 Bankers Classic, Ohio defeated Sacramento State, 3-0. Game scores for the match were, 30-25, 33-31, 30-27. With the win, Ohio moved to 31-2 on the season, while Sacramento State fell to 26-8.
Following the Championship the seven person All-Tournament Team was announced. The MVP of the 27th Annual Bankers Classic was Amanda Anderson (Ohio), the six remaining team members were Melissa Griffin (Ohio), Savannah Parra (Ohio), Ashley Groothuis (Pacific), Lindsay Haupt (Sacramento State), Atlee Hubbard (Sacramento State) and Missie Stidham (Saint Mary's).