Stanford, Calif. - Playing in the first-ever NorCal Invitational at Stanford on the Cardinal's new sand courts, the Tigers made history as Pacific took the championship title with a sweep of the team action on Saturday, March 7. Pacific (3-0) started the day with a big win over No. 6 Saint Mary's (2-1), 4-1, in the semifinals before sweeping Stanford (2-1), 5-0, in the championship match.
"The girls played great volleyball today and took down some elite talent in No. 6 Saint Mary's and a very good Stanford squad," said head coach Greg Gibbons. "These were all great matches and it was all about eeking out the necessary points to come up with the wins. We made history today winning the first tournament on the Cardinal's new courts and it puts us in a great position nationally. This championship sets us up for a great year in a very long sand season."
Semifinal - vs #6 Saint Mary's
Just as they had done the previous day to begin the tournament, the Tigers came out firing with their No. 4 and No. 5 pairings as the Tigers ran away with a pair of wins to set up the day. Dominating their matchup, the youg team of freshmen Taylor Poncetta and Andie Shelton made short work of the Gaels at No. 5 as the duo produced the most lopsided when of the morning by giving up just 18 total points in the victory.
After a close loss at No. 3, the Tigers came up with the points needed at the top of the lineup to take home the victory as Pacific's top team of Kat Schulz and Lexi Elman clinched the overall victory with a comeback win at No. 1. The duo fell behind by a set early to Dalas Dodd and Samantha Tinsley, but roared back to take sets two and three, winning comfortably in the third set, 15-9. For good measure, seniors Anne-Sophie Bauer and Megan Birch held on to win at No. 2 as they outsprinted the Gaels in the last set after sitting tied at 10-10 late.
The win set up a championship match against the host Cardinal, who came up with a close 3-2 win over Santa Clara to advance on in the tournament.
Pacific 4, Saint Mary's 1 (Semifinals)
March 7, 2015 - Stanford, Calif.
NorCal Invitational
1) Lexi Elman/Kat Schulz (UOP) def. Dalas Dodd/Samantha Tinsley (SMC), 14-21, 21-15, 15-9
2) Anne-Sophie Bauer/Megan Birch (UOP) def. Clare Powers/Madi Wilkerson (SMC), 21-14, 14-21, 16-14
3) Mary Hernandez/Alexis Salmons (SMC) def. Mia Feiner/Gillian Howard (UOP), 18-21, 21-16, 15-12
4) Kimmy Whitson/Alicja Wilk (UOP) def. Maegan Conroy/Mileva Popovic (SMC), 21-17, 21-18
5) Taylor Poncetta/Andie Shelton (UOP) def. Hannah Liserra/Jordan Patchell (SMC), 21-8, 21-10
Exh: Lana Brown/Julia Wright (SAC ST) def. Katrin Gotterba/Maycie LaBass (UOP), 21-13, 8-21, 15-13
Order of finish: 5,4,3,1,2
Final - at Stanford
With all of the momentum from surviving the tough side of the bracket, the Tigers entered the championship match with an air on invincability. Not to be denied, the Tigers put the Cardinal away early before crusing in for a perfect finish to their team tournament with the sweep including running away with the sixth exhibition match.
Satying perfect on the weekend and in their young careers, Poncetta and Shelton made short work of Petra Grutzik and Catherine Raquel for the first point of the afternoon. Right behind them, Whitson and Wilk swept their match as the bottom two pair got the Tigers the early lead and cushion to set up the victory.
For Pacific, the win would come in a hurry as the team of All-American Gillian Howard and birthday girl Mia Feiner made sure to stamp out any last hope of a possible Cardinal comeback with a convincing win in the third and crucial set at No. 3. The duo picked up their first win of the season together and ensured the victory for the Tigers, taking off the pressure from the top of the lineup, as they rebounded from dropping the first set.
Not to be outshone, the top pairs stayed perfect on the young year as well as the Tigers' No. 1 and No. 2 pairings battled out three-set victories to give Pacific the sweep of the Cardinal. Both matches came down to just a pair of points as Bauer and Birch again persevered to take an extra-point victory over their competition for the second-straight match.
Pacific 5, Stanford 0 (Finals)
March 7, 2015 - Stanford, Calif.
NorCal Invitational
1) Lexi Elman/Kat Schulz (UOP) def. Lauren Birks/Brittany Howard (STAN), 21-18, 20-22, 15-13
2) Anne-Sophie Bauer/Megan Birch (UOP) def. Madi Bugg/Ivana Vanjak (STAN), 17-21, 21-14, 16-14
3) Mia Feiner/Gillian Howard (UOP) def. Grace Kennedy/Merete Lutz (STAN), 18-21, 21-11, 15-8
4) Kimmy Whitson/Alicja Wilk (UOP) def. Inky Ajanaku/Kelsey Humphreys (STAN), 21-19, 21-18
5) Taylor Poncetta/Andie Shelton (UOP) def. Petra Grutzik/Catherine Raquel (STAN), 21-16, 21-18
Exh: Katrin Gotterba/Maycie LaBass (UOP) def. Sidney Brown/Dana Ritchie (STAN), 21-15, 21-18
Order of finish: 5,4,3,1,2
