STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific volleyball team returns home for the first time in nearly two weeks, playing host to two nationally-ranked opponents with #4 San Diego and #12 BYU coming to the Alex G. Spanos Center on Thursday, Oct. 13, and Saturday, Oct. 15.
Logan Blutreich led the Tigers (10-8, 2-4) offensively last time out, registering six of the team's 27 kills at Loyola Marymount last Saturday. Blutreich also led the team with a .500 hitting percentage, increasing her season hitting percentage to .267, which ranks fifth best on the team.
Through 18 matches this season, the Tigers lead the West Coast Conference in total kills, accumulating 910, and are one of three teams to have four players earn at least 100 kills. Led by Alexa Edward's team and conference-leading 265 kills, the group of Edwards,
Biamba Kabengele,
Darina Kumanova, and
Ramonni Cook have become the team's primary offensive weapons, combining for 660 kills.
San Diego becomes the first ranked opponent to touch down at the Alex G. Spanos Center as the Tigers take on the Toreros for the first time this season on Thursday, Oct. 13.
The Toreros, ranked fourth in the most recent AVCA Division I Coaches Top-25 Poll, enter Thursday's contest as the conference's top team, registering a 12-1 record, and are currently undefeated in conference play, going perfect in six matches.
Katie Lukes and Grace Frohling lead the Toreros offensively, combining for 375 of the team's 752 kills. Lukes, a former WCC Offensive Player of the Week recipient this season, leads the team with 202 kills, while Frohling ranks second on the team in kills with 173.
Defensively, the Toreros rank third in the conference in total blocks with 152, with Leyla Blackwell leading the team with 83.
The Tigers have only defeated the Toreros once in program history, earning a 3-1 win at the Alex G. Spanos Center last season. During the upset win, Edwards, Cook, and Kumanova recorded 41 of the team's 59 kills, with Cook leading the team with 16. The win over the Toreros marked the second time the Tigers defeated a ranked opponent at home last season.
After the matchup against San Diego, Pacific welcomes in #12 BYU on Saturday, Oct. 15, in celebration of Homecoming & Family Weekend. The defending conference champion Cougars enter this week with a 13-3 record and share the top spot in the conference standings with San Diego.
Erin Livingston, Heather Gneiting, and Whitney Llarenas lead the Cougars offensively, as Livingston has accumulated a team-high 218 kills through 16 matches. Gneiting and Llarenas have combined for 265 kills, while the duo leads the team defensively, tallying 63 and 53 total blocks, respectively.
The Tigers dominated the Cougars in the early stages of the rivalry, holding a 7-2 advantage from 1983 to 1996. The Cougars, however, have been victorious as of late, taking both contests from last season.
Homecoming & Family Weekend will be a true homecoming for the Pacific volleyball program, as many former team members plan to return to campus. Following the matchup against the Cougars, the Tigers will honor members of the nine Final Four teams, which includes former players from the 1985 and 1986 national championship teams.
For more information about the 2022 season and future events, follow Pacific volleyball on social media and download the Pacific Athletics mobile app to keep up with news regarding your favorite Pacific Tiger teams.
