Zags Win at Pacific in Five Sets

Thursday, November 7

Stockton, CA

7:00 PM

Gonzaga University

8-16,2-10WCC

University of the Pacific

12-13,4-9WCC

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Gonzaga	18	16	25	25	15	3
Pacific	25	25	19	19	6	2

Photo by: Nick Tomoyasu

11/7/2019 9:54:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

Bulldogs have won two straight

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Gonzaga volleyball team won its second-straight match with a five set (18-25, 16-25, 25-19, 25-19, 15-6) victory at Pacific Thursday evening.

Gonzaga (8-16, 2-10 WCC) was led by Sarah Penner's nine kills, 11 digs and six blocks, while Jenna Kuehn added a near triple-double with 28 assists, 10 digs and seven kills. Julia Talarico added a 23 digs, while both Katelyn Oppio and Payton Mack added seven blocks each.

As a squad, Gonzaga finished with 45 kills hitting .163, 33 assists and 75 digs to go along with 18.0 blocks. GU's 18.0 blocks are a season-high, and it ranks tied for ninth in program history for digs in a five-set match during the rally scoring era. Mack and Oppio's seven blocks are the most by a Zag player this season.

"This team has made the commitment to enjoy the moment and stay aggressive," head volleyball coach Diane Nelson said. "Their heart and grit showed up!"

After dropping the first two sets to Pacific, the Zags responded winning the third and fourth sets by an identical 25-19 score to force a fifth set. In the final set, GU hit a stellar .429 for six kills off 14 swings with no errors. GU was a force at the net, registering 4.0 blocks while limiting Pacific to -.087 hitting. GU raced out to the early 4-3 lead and put together an 8-2 run to lead 12-5 late in the set. The Zags continued on for the 15-6 set win and 3-2 match victory.

GU's come-from-behind five-set win was the first since the Zags overcame a two-set deficit at San Francisco on Sept. 30, 2017. It also marks the first five-set win for the Bulldogs this season.

Pacific (12-13, 4-9 WCC) finished with three players with double-figure kills, led by Riley Patterson with a match-high 19 kills to go along with 10 digs. Allison Dennemann added 13 kills while Carissa Bradford added 12. Jadyn Tubbs finished with a match-high 33 digs, while Gabby Leo added a match-high 52 assists.

Gonzaga continues play on the road as it takes on Santa Clara Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m.