Strong Serving Helps Pacific Win against Willamette, 3-0, in NWC Volleyball

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Pacific University used powerful serving that resulted in 10 service aces to down Willamette University, 3-0, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Saturday, Sept. 16 at Cone Field House. Mackenzie Brown registered eight of the Boxers' service aces, as Pacific improved to 8-1 overall, 2-0 in the NWC. The Bearcats fell to 3-7 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

The 10 aces were offset by just three serving errors by the Boxers. Willamette finished with three service aces and four serving errors.

In addition to creating eight service aces, Brown's strong serves also prevented the Bearcats from executing a clean attack. She had a lengthy string of serves in the first and third sets, helping the Boxers rally from an early deficit each time.

"The Linfield match (on Friday) was quite a disappointment. We just didn't perform up to our standards, but the match against Pacific was a little more like we can play," Willamette Head Coach Tom Shoji said. "We were ahead in two sets and we need to learn how to stop a run of points."

Karlee Duncan led Pacific with 11 kills. Jaiden Mason (Fr., S/OPP, Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Christian School) topped the Bearcats with 11 kills. Elena Vasquez (Fr., DS/OH, Kingston, WA/North Kitsap HS), who played libero for the Bearcats, contributed a match-high 21 digs.

Milana Ivkovic provided the Boxers with eight kills and a .278 hitting percentage. Anna VanderWeyst registered 17 digs, while Jordan Zweifel earned 15 digs and Brown finished with 10. The Boxers amassed 10.0 team total blocks, led by five each from Ivkovic (1 solo, 4 assists) and Bailey Servoss (2 solo, 3 assists). Ellie Parker supplied assists on 36 of Pacific's 37 kills.

Mason not only led WU in kills, but also achieved seven assists, six digs and a block solo. Kendall Fox (So., OH, Dupont, WA/Steilacoom HS) was credited with eight kills, and Emma Liband (Sr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) recorded three block assists.

Morgan Webster (Jr., S/DS, Milwaukie, OR/Milwaukie HS) led the Bearcats with 17 assists. Overall, WU had 27 assists on 31 kills.

"Elena Vasquez and Nikki Seina were really good defensively for us, and that is going to be something to build around," Shoji said. "Jaiden Mason again was good for us. We are getting better every time we take the court."

The Bearcats began the first set by surging out to an 8-2 advantage. Mason produced the eighth point with a service ace. WU held a 10-5 lead when Brown served for the first time for the Boxers. She immediately registered a service ace and then kept Willamette off balance for a total of six points, as Pacific moved in front, 11-10. Following her first ace, Zweifel pounded out a kill. Brown added another service ace. The next three points were scored on a kill by Zweifel and two kills from Ivkovic.

Willamette tied the score at 11-11 when Brown's string of serves ended with an attacking error by Ivkovic. The score was tied again two points later, and then Pacific went on a 7-2 run for a 19-14 lead. Duncan connected for two kills during the run. Willamette pulled within 19-18 on a service ace by Arianna Khan (Fr., OPP, Yuba, CA/River Valley HS), but the Boxers tallied four consecutive points for a 23-18 edge. Pacific won the set, 25-19.

In the second set, the Boxers owned a slim 9-8 lead after Brown's only service error of the match. Three attacking errors in a row by Willamette gave Pacific a 12-8 advantage, which increased to a five-point margin after Duncan tacked on a kill. The Boxers expanded their margin to 20-12 and went on to win the set 25-15.

A kill by Liband to complete the seventh rally of the third set provided the Bearcats with a 5-2 lead. WU led 6-3 on a kill from Jennifer Lane (So., MH/OH, Salinas, CA/Notre Dame HS), and the Bearcats were in front a bit later at 7-5. The teams were tied at 8-8 before Brown served five successful points to give Pacific the lead. Two of the points were scored on aces.

Mason of Willamette ended the string of points for the Boxers by pounding down a kill to cut the lead to 13-9. Three points in row went to Pacific on a kill by Ivkovic, a block by Ivkovic, and a kill by Duncan to advance the margin to seven points at 16-9.

Pacific eventually claimed a 20-14 advantage, but Willamette battled back to within 21-17 when a kill by Lane capped a short 3-1 run. The Bearcats were unable to get closer, as Pacific took the set, 25-20, to win the match.

The Bearcats will play again on Friday, Sept. 22 at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. (PDT).