STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific volleyball team took a step toward defending its Central Cal Challenge title with an opening day win over Fresno State, 27-25, 25-22, 25-21 on Thursday evening at the Alex G. Spanos Center. The Tigers won the 2022 title in the inaugural year of the event with a 3-0 mark.
Senior
Alexa Edwards paced the Tiger attack with 10 kills along with six digs. Junior
Jenna Heller had a team-best 19 digs and 14 assists.
In the opening set, Pacific came from behind to win, 27-25. Fresno State had raced out to a 20-15 edge before Pacific went on a 5-2 run to pull within two, 22-20. The teams traded points and the Bulldogs served set point at 24-22 before Pacific ran off three straight points behind kills by Edwards and
Ramonni Cook and
Logan Blutreich/Edwards block. Fresno State tied the game at 25 before Pacific put the set away on an Edwards kill and a Blutreich block. The Tigers were helped by five aces and five blocks in the first set, helping them overcome a -.043 hitting percentage (9-11-46).
"We had our backs way against the wall in the that first set," said head coach
Greg Gibbons. "But we practice and train to win critical points. Fresno State had a 20-15 lead, and we came back to win that first set. Our hitting percentage went up to .273 in the second and .253 in the third, so we found our rhythm; we just need to come out of the gates a little better."
Pacific won the second set on an ace by
Darina Kumanova to complete a 3-0 run and post a 25-22 win. The Tigers hit a much improved .273 (15-3-44) in the second set.
Pacific never trailed in the third set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead and was up 13-8. Fresno State battled back to within two, 21-19, before Pacific went on a 4-2 run to end the set and match. Edwards had two kills in the run.
In the other match on Thursday, Sacramento State (7-5) won in three sets over CSU Bakersfield (4-6), 25-15, 25-15, 25-20. The Roadrunners will play Pacific at 6 p.m. Friday. Sacramento State and Fresno State will meet in the 3 p.m. match.
On Saturday, Fresno State and CSU Bakersfield will meet at noon followed by Sacramento State at Pacific at 3 p.m.
