Pacific Sweeps Alabama A&M
November 30, 2001 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 30, 2001
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Jennifer Joines had 16 kills, an ace and five blocks to lead Pacific to a three-game sweep of Alabama A & M in first round action in the NCAA Championship Volleyball Tournament Friday at the Kentucky International Convention Center.
Pacific improves to 27-7 with the 30-18, 30-13, 30-16 win.
"When you outhit, outblock and outdig the other team, you are doing something right," said Pacific head coach Jayne Gibson-McHugh, whose team has now won 11 of its last 12 matches.
Alabama A & M is eliminated and ends their season at 21-10.
"I am just real, real proud. I didn't think we would make it this far with such a young squad," said A & M head coach Betty K. Austin. The Bulldogs were outhit .277 to -.088 and outblocked 9-6. In all, Pacific had 12 aces and 39 kills.
In the first game, the Bulldogs allowed Pacific to rout to an 11-3 lead, forcing Austin to call time out to regroup. Alabama A&M's Monica Thompson came out and scored three straight points on a kill, a block and a service ace. Joines had three of Pacific's next three points to go up 15-6.
"I learned last year that every match might be your last in the NCAA's so every single point counts," said Joines.
The Bulldogs weren't done yet. Freshman outside hitter Natasha Welty sparked a 6-2 run for A & M with three straight kills for points to come within four at 17-13.
"When we had good movement, executed and moved easily from defense to offense on transition, we were able to get on a little roll," said Austin.
But, three Alabama A&M hitting errors and an receiving error did little to help the Bulldogs' cause as Pacific launched a 9-2 run. Up 26-15, the Tigers cruised to the 30-18 win. The Bulldogs were outhit .364 to l.l069 with A&M notching only nine kills on 29 attacks with seven errors. Joines had 10 kills in that set to lead Pacific. Thompson was held to just three kills.
Pacific's aggressive serving in the second game made it difficult for A & M to get into its offense. Pacific's Courtney Miller uncorked three of Pacific's eight aces in that game. Although Pacific hitting cooled to just .091 with seven kills on 22 attacks and five errors, A&M had more errors than kills with three kills, nine errors on 25 attacks. Sophomore Lutasha Bradley led the Bulldogs with two kills. At the break, the teams were tied at five blocks apiece.
"We served really well and I liked the fact that a lot of people got to play and gain tournament experience, " said Gibson-McHugh.
Facing elimination, the Bulldogs battled to stay close in the third game tying at both six and seven. After Pacific built a 10-7 lead on a Joines block, A & M was able to cut the lead to one on a kill by Bradley at 10-9. The Bulldogs scrapped back to within three at 17-14 on a miss by Joines. But the tall front line of Pacific and superior firepower took its toll on the Bulldog team attempting to make it past the first round in just their second appearance in the tournament.
"Alabama A & M is a fine young team, those freshmen and sophomores will be something to reckon with soon," said Gibson McHugh.
But the Bulldogs couldn't come of age fast enough as Pacific hitting heated up to .308 and the Bulldogs were outblocked 4-1 led by Sara Vinall's three. A & M scored just once more as Pacific cruised to the 30-16 win.
"I have been telling this team all year that we can play with the big teams," said Austin. "The score may not be what we hoped but we belong here."
