Nov. 16, 2001
Santa Barbara, Calif. - Despite battling back after being down two games to none and winning the third game decisevly, the 23rd-ranked UCSB women's volleyball team could not defeat 15th-ranked Pacific, falling 3-1 in front of 915 fans at the Thunderdome. Jamie Hamm led the Tiger attack with 18 kills and 22 digs. The 30-23, 30-25, 21-30, 30-24 loss drops the Gauchos into third place in the Big West with an 15-12 overall record and a 13-4 conference mark. The Tigers take over sole-posession of second place, 23-7, 14-3 in Big West play.
Pacific came out strong building up a 7-2 lead in the first game on a service ace from Jennifer Joines. However, UC Santa Barbara hung with the Tigers and tied the score at 21-21 and took their first lead of the game at 22-21 on a kill by Erica Menzel. However, Pacific regained the lead at 23-22 on a drop shot by setter Megan Hauschild. The Tigers took their lead to a game point behind six straight points on Joines' serve and when Danielle Bauer stepped into the net, Pacific took home game one, 30-23.
Game two proved to follow much of the same pattern as the first game, with Pacific talling a 9-5 lead early in the game. The Gauchos rallied again at tied the game at 10-10 on en error by Joines. After UCSB evened the score two more times, Pacific went on a 10-3 run concluding with an ace by Misty Swails to lead the Gauchos 24-17. The Tigers capped game two on a kill from Elaine Goeders to increase their advantage to two games.
After an intermission pep talk, UCSB entered game three with a new fire. the Gauchos took the lead at 4-3 an never trailed again in the game, guided by the play of setter Brooke Rundle, who recorded 10 of her 26 assists in the game. On a kill from senior Brie Lampe, UCSB took their largest lead at 20-10. Rundle's third kill brought the Gauchos to game point and an error by Hamm gave UCSB the 30-21 victory in game three. UCSB put together a .282 hitting performance in the game, their highest of the night.
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Pacific returned to their leading ways and snatched a 11-5 lead on an error from Bauer. The Tigers continued to dominate, increasing their advantage to 18-10 on an error by Menzel. However, the Gauchos did not surrender, edging back to within two points at 24-22 when Pacific's Courtney Miller hit into the net. Four errors by the Gauchos in the following points gave Pacific the 30-24 victory and the match win.
Menzel recorded her eleventh double-double of the season with a team-high 14 kills and 17 digs and added three solo blocks to her arsenal. Bauer added 13 kills, while Rundle had 14 digs. Setter Brooke Niles also registered 13 kills while adding 22 assists. Defensive specialist Casey McFarland added 12 digs. Joines added 17 kills and eight digs in the Tiger's victory, while Courtney Miller recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 15 digs.
UCSB will be back in Big West action for their final home match of the season tommorrow night when they host Cal State Northridge at 7:00 pm. It will be the final match in the Thunderdome for seniors Brooke Rundle, Missy Blackshire and Brie Lampe.
