STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific volleyball team dropped its home opener Tuesday evening, falling to Santa Clara, 28-26, 27-25, 17-25, 25-17, in a West Coast Conference contest at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
 
The Tigers (9-6, 1-2) tallied 62 kills throughout the match, the third straight contest the team has recorded at least 60 kills. Alexa Edwards and Biamba Kabengele led the team offensively, recording double-doubles, as Edwards tallied a team-high 18 kills and 13 digs, while Kabengele added 16 kills and 10 digs. Edwards and Kabengele have registered a double-double in back-to-back contests as the duo has combined for 65 kills and 44 digs in the two-match span.
 
After dropping the first two sets to the Broncos (6-8, 2-0), the Tigers bounced back and took charge, winning the third set to ease back into the match. In a back-and-forth affair in the third frame, the Tigers, leading 19-16, midway through the set, tallied six of the remaining 11 points to secure the set by four points.
 
Edwards tallied eight kills during the third-set win, registering a .429 hitting percentage in the process. Kabengele and Darina Kumanova added four apiece while the team recorded 18 digs defensively.
 
The Broncos bounced back in the fourth frame and secured the win to earn their second conference win of the season.
 
"Tough night tonight," Head Coach Greg Gibbons stated after the match. "We had some solid moments, but it's tough to be successful missing as many serves and to make as many unforced errors as we did tonight … Tomorrow is a new day, and we will get better."
 
Pacific returns to action on Friday, Sept. 30, as the Tigers continue conference play at home with a matchup against Saint Mary's at 6 p.m.