Oregon State
1-4
San Diego Tournament: Pacific vs. Oregon State
5-1
Oregon State Volleyball Falls to Pacific, 3-1
September 06, 2015 | Women's Volleyball
Early deficits undid the Beavers (1-4) in each set they dropped, as the Tigers (5-1) made early runs in each of their first two 25-19 set wins. OSU started in an early deficit in the second frame as well, but rallied to overcome the tough start with a 25-23 second set win. The Tigers ultimately sealed the 3-1 match win with a 25-17 win in the fourth frame.
“We're really struggling in several positions right now,” Oregon State head coach Taras Liskevych said. “We need to improve in our setting, at libero and at hitting. We missed too many serves especially at the most untimely moments. We had one ace to 10 errors. That just can't happen at this level. “
Pacific held the team edge in kills (62-45), and outhit the Beavers, .281 to .206. The Tigers recorded 19 more assists (59-40) and digs (54-40), while the Beavers edged Pacific in blocks, 10-7.5.
Sophomore outside hitter Mary-Kate Marshall led OSU with 15 kills on .244 hitting and posted four blocks. Redshirt junior outside hitter Katelyn Driscoll added 10 kills (.296) with a pair of blocks. Redshirt junior setter Dana Backlund recorded 22 assists, while freshman defensive specialist Kayla Ellis paced the Beavers with a career-high 10 digs and added a service ace in her first collegiate start.
Pacific received a strong performance from junior outside hitter Lexi Elman, who posted a double-double, hitting .408 en route to 28 kills, while adding a team-high 14 digs.
“We need to block better,” Liskevych said. “Lexi Elman had a field day against us – we had no answer for her.”
The Tigers opened with a pair of kills, a block and two OSU hitting errors to begin the match on a 5-0 run. The run continued until the Beavers had exhausted both timeouts at a 13-3 deficit. From that point, OSU went on a 12-5 run to cut the lead to 18-15, but the early hole proved too much to overcome as the Tigers took the opening frame, 25-19.
OSU began the second set in an early hole as well, using its first timeout trailing, 13-7. Again, the Beavers closed within three points, drawing the score to 19-16, and then taking the lead in the set at 22-21. This time, OSU completed the rally, tying the match up at one set apiece with a 25-23 second set win.
For the third consecutive set, Pacific had the early edge, as the Tigers opened the frame with an 8-4 lead and stretched it to 17-10. OSU went on a 5-2 run from that point to cut the Tiger lead to 19-15. Pacific finished off the set, 25-19, and the Beavers trailed 2-1 in the match heading to the fourth set.
The fourth set also began with an 8-4 opening stretch for the Tigers, who held on to this run for the remainder of the set to take the frame, 25-17, and the match, 3-1.
“It's an ongoing process,” Liskevych said. “We need to find where we are, keep at it and turn this ship around.”
For more information on the Oregon State volleyball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/BeavsVolleyball, by Facebook at Facebook.com/OregonStateVolleyball or on Instagram at Instagram.com/OregonStateVolleyball.
