Oct. 6, 2005

Box Score

STOCKTON, Calif. - Senior Ashley Groothius had a match-high 13 kills and 12 digs to lead the University of the Pacific to a 30-22, 30-15, 30-20 sweep over UC Davis in non-conference women's collegiate volleyball action Thursday at the Spanos Center.

The Aggies drop to 2-16 for the year. The Tigers improve to 8-7 overall.

Outside hitter Nicole Read led UC Davis offensively with seven kills while senior Jill McPheeters, a native of Stockton, added five more from her opposite position. Redshirt freshman Amy McMahon provided some punch in Game 3, knocking down three kills on five attempts. Setter Katelyn Astruc and libero Nichole Brown each had 10 digs to pace the Aggies defensively.

Sophomore Kara Uhl tallied 11 kills and hit .381 in aid of Pacific's win. Sophomore libero Julie Magud added a team-best 15 digs, and senior middle blocker Sidney Bennett had 10 kills and seven total blocks.

With the exception of a quick 8-4 start for the Aggies in Game 1, the Tigers never trailed during the match. Groothius came out firing with three kills in the first seven points, but Read's shot followed by a service ace by Michelle Nelson but UC Davis in front. Rebecca Mason then served up the majority of an 8-0 turnaround that included two of her five total service aces, plus back-to-back blocks by Bennett.

McPheeters had consecutive kills to help the Aggies close to within a 17-14 margin midway through the first frame, and consecutive Tiger errors later allowed UC Davis to stay within reach at 20-17. Pacific pulled away from there, taking six of the next seven points.

The Tigers went virtually unchallenged in the remaining games, crafting an aearly 14-7 lead in Game 2 and a 13-5 start to Game 3. In the second game, Pacific committed just three errors to hit .314, while the Aggies struggled at minus-.057 on the offensive chart.

Pacific also finished the match with 14 aces and nine total blocks.

UC Davis returns to action on October 8 for a 7 p.m. match at Cal State Northridge.

UC Davis (kills-aces-blocks) - Michelle Nelson 0-1-0, Katelyn Astruc 3-0-0, Katie Wilson 1-1-1, Jenny Pierce 1-0-0, Rachel Keener 4-0-1, Nicole Read 7-0-0, Amy McMahon 3-0-0, Kelly Patterson 0-0-1, Cleo Schiff 1-0-0, Chantal Paschetta 0-0-0, Jill McPheeters 5-0-1, Renee Ibekwe 2-0-0, Nichole Brown 0-0-0. Totals 27-2-2.0. Assists - Katelyn Astruc 18. Digs leaders - Katelyn Astruc 10, Nichole Brown 10.

Pacific (kills-aces-blocks) - Kara Uhl 11-2-1, Allison Ianni 2-1-4, Johanna Hilbers 7-0-2, Ashley Groothius 13-1-0, Rebecca Mason 0-5-0, Sidney Bennett 10-3-7, Susan Drollinger 2-0-2, Julie Magud 0-2-0, Katie Perez 0-0-0, Nikke Jagd 1-0-1, Julie Winterbotham 0-0-0, Alexa Anderson 1-0-0, Jennifer Knox 1-0-0. Totals 48-14-9.0. Assists - Allison Ianni 30. Digs leader - Julie Magud 15.