Nov. 27, 1999
STOCKTON, Calif. – Led by tournament MVP Elsa Stegemann?s 18 kills, fifth-ranked University of the Pacific defeated Notre Dame 15-9, 15-0, 15-4, for the second time this season to capture the 21st annual Community Bankers Classic title Saturday evening in women?s volleyball action. With the loss, the Irish dropped to 20-8 overall, while the Tigers improved to 28-2.
Notre Dame was led by all-tournament selections Mary Leffers (Tampa, Fla.), who had seven kills and five digs, Denise Boylan (Lisle, Ill.), who recorded 25 assists and four digs. Junior Christi Girton also tallied seven kills for the Irish, while sophomore Kristy Kreher (Birmingham, Mich.) was perfect offensively with five kills on 10 attempts.
The Irish were caught a bit off guard, falling behind early 5-0. Notre Dame, however, battled its way back into the match, coming within two at 4-6 and 5-7 before tying the score at 7-7 on consecutive blocks for points by Marcie Bomhack (Waukesha, Wis.) and Malinda Goralski (Missouri City, Texas) and Kreher and Goralski. A Stegemann kill gave Pacific back the lead at 8-7, but the Irish hung to within one point at 8-9, before the Tigers scored four unanswered points including one on a red card given to Notre Dame head coach Debbie Brown for arguing a lift call. Another Stegemann kill gave the Tigers game point at 14-9, and three game points later, Danielle Shinn?s unassisted kill gave UOP the first game, 15-9.
Pacific kept their momentum and restored order in game two, winning 15-0 by capitalizing on Notre Dame?s -.455 hitting percentage and improving their own hitting percentage to .484 for the match.
The Irish finally scored their first point since game one when Stegemann hit a ball out of bounds, making the score 1-7 in game three. The Irish would score three more points on a Pacific hitting error, a Girton ace and a bad Tiger set, but Pacific proved too strong, winning the game and the tournament title with a 15-4 win.
Notre Dame will find out if it will be granted an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament when the 1999 division I selection show takes place on Sunday, Nov. 28, at 10 p.m. EST.
University of the Pacific?s Community Bankers Classic All-Tournament Team
Mary Leffers, Notre Dame
Denise Boylan, Notre Dame
Angela Lewis, Sacramento State
Danielle Shinn, Pacific
Tracey Chambers, Pacific
Jennica Smith, Pacific
MVP ? Elsa Stegemann, Pacific