September 20, 2007

PACIFIC 3, UC DAVIS 1
Tigers pounce on Aggies in Big West opener

By Jason Anderson
Record Staff Writer

Team satisfied with win despite some mistakes

DAVIS - The performance was far from flawless, but the Pacific women's volleyball team opened Big West Conference play with a 3-1 victory over UC Davis on Wednesday night at The Pavilion.

The Tigers (7-2, 1-0 Big West) played poorly following an impressive first game, but they still spoiled UC Davis' Big West debut, handing the Aggies (3-9, 0-1) their fifth consecutive loss, 30-26, 30-28, 26-30, 30-24.

"Games are rarely flawless, so I think we're excited to start conference with a win," senior middle blocker Johanna Hilbers said.

Hilbers hit .429 with 14 kills to lead four players in double figures for Pacific. Senior outside hitter Alexa Anderson had 13 kills, and sophomore Meagan MimMack and freshman Svenja Englehardt had 12 apiece for the Tigers.

There were eight ties early in the opening set, but the Tigers, who hit .355 in the game, opened up a seven-point lead at 25-18. The Aggies scored four consecutive points to cut Pacific's lead to 28-26, but a service error and a double-hit call ended their comeback. Anderson and MimMack had three kills each, and MimMack hit .667 to lead four players who hit .300 or better.

The Tigers weren't nearly as efficient in a second game that featured 11 ties. They hit just .159 but held UC Davis to .150.

Pacific broke a 17-17 tie with five consecutive points and extended its lead to 24-18, but the Aggies again rallied to within one at 27-26. UC Davis junior Erin Turner recorded her 10th kill to make it 29-28, but the game endedon another Aggie service error.

"I'm not sure why we let them come back today," MimMack said. "That was very out of character for us to do that, so I don't think anybody's really worried about it."

The Tigers' tendency to let the opponent back into the game cost them the third set. The Aggies trailed 23-19 before storming back for six consecutive points, taking a 24-23 lead on an attack error by Hilbers.

Pacific coach Charlie Wade said three uncharacteristic reception errors by senior libero Julie Magud gave UC Davis new life. The Aggies mounted an 8-1 run to take a 27-24 lead and won the game when junior setter Shannon Krug was whistled for one of several double hits called against her.

"I think we've battled back a lot more than we've squandered leads this season, but we're on the road, and sometimes things get a little loose," Wade said. "You try not to press the panic button when stuff like that happens. You know Julie is going to settle down, and she did. You know Shannon is going to settle down, and she did."

There were 14 ties in the fourth game.

The Tigers trailed 24-23 before they scored seven consecutive points to end the match.

"It was awesome to come out with a conference win," MimMack said. "Hopefully we can keep it going this weekend against (Cal State) Fullerton."