Nov. 5, 1999

Santa Barbara, Calif. - The fifth-ranked University of the Pacific Tigers defeated the eighth-ranked UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in five games at the UCSB Thunderdome Friday night in front of 1,608 fans. The Tigers, who lost their first match of the season to the Gauchos in Stockton on October 2nd, improved their record to 22-2 on the season with the victory, and is now 12-1 in Big West Conference play. The Gauchos fall to 20-4 overall and 10-3 in the Big West.

Pacific won game one easily 15-2, but UCSB came right back to take a two games to one lead over the Tigers winning the next two 15-5 and 15-7. But the Gauchos failed to put the Tigers away, and UOP won game four 15-9, sending the match to a rally scoring fifth game. Pacific took an early lead in the fifth and UCSB was unable to get back into it, losing the finale 15-11.

All-American Elsa Stegemann led the Tigers with a match best 27 kills. Jennica Smith pounded down 22 for UOP while Jamie Hamm led the Tigers defensively with 30 digs. The Tigers hit .257 for the match, compared to the .206 mark for the Gauchos.

Roberta Gehlke led UCSB with 21 kills, as five different Gauchos accumulated ten or more kills in the match. Setter Brooke Rundle finished with a match best 64 assists a team-high 15 digs. Five different Gauchos had ten or more digs.

UCSB will hit the court again Saturday night when sixth-ranked Long Beach State comes to the Thunderdome for a 7:00 p.m. match.