Powerful Pacific Swallows Vandals

The University of the Pacific proved more powerful than the University of Idaho Vandals Sunday while earning a 15-9, 15-7, 15-8 victory in the semifinals of the inaugural Big West Conference volleyball tournament.

Pacific, ranked 13th in the nation, improved to 23-5 on the year. The Tigers will face No. 5 Long Beach State in tonight’s championship match.

Idaho’s fate rests in the hands of the NCAA, which will announce its 1996 tournament pairings Sunday.

Vandals coach Tom Hilbert isn’t very optimistic. “Usually, to get an at-large bid you have to do something to deserve it,” he said. “We haven’t beaten a team this season that has been ranked nationally and not very many teams who are ranked in their districts. Honestly, I’d be shocked if we got in.”

Sunday, the Vandals (25-6) were guided by sophomore middle blocker Jessica Moore, who finished with 14 kills while hitting .440. Jeri Hymas added eight more kills for Idaho.

Senior setter Sacha Caldemeyer directed the UOP attack with 41 assists.

Idaho was held to just a .179 hitting mark. Pacific hit .353.

Idaho’s left-side hitters were held in check for much of the match as Hymas and Beth Craig combined for just 11 kills. Hilbert felt that was the key to the match.

“We have to have better left-side hitting against quality teams like that,” he said. “We played them better than the first time we met, but they’re a much better team than they were earlier in the season.”