NCAA Regional Volleyball : Pacific Beats SDSU in Semifinals
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Elaina Oden had 19 kills and 6 blocks and Terri McGrath added 11 kills Friday night as top-ranked University of the Pacific eliminated fifth-ranked San Diego State, 15-9, 15-13, 15-10, in the semifinals of the NCAA Northwest Regional volleyball tournament at San Jose State.
Pacific (36-3) defeated San Diego State (37-9) four times this season.
In the first game, SDSU led, 8-2, but UOP rallied to take a 10-9 lead. Then Oden, the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. co-player of the year, got four of the next five points. SDSU led, 8-4, in the second game, but UOP rallied for a 14-12 lead. SDSU’s Renee Pankopf scored on an ace, her 83rd of the season. But UOP got the serve back and won the game when Sally Larson hit long.
“The key to the match was (6-foot 4-inch Kris) Morton getting handled in the middle by Pacific’s blockers,” said Rudy Suwara, SDSU coach.
Morton led the Aztecs with 15 kills and 6 blocks and senior Pankopf, in her last collegiate match, had 13 kills.
UOP advances to tonight’s final, with the winner earning a berth in the NCAA Final Four.
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