STOCKTON. Calif — Despite 21 kills from junior Grace Frohling, No. 23 San Diego volleyball (20-6, 14-3 WCC) dropped a tough 3-1 decision at Pacific (13-15, 10-7 WCC) on Saturday afternoon, concluding its regular-season road schedule with a loss.

The Tigers took the first two sets by scores of 25-21 and 25-22, then the Toreros rallied back for a convincing 25-18 win in the third. Pacific was able to secure the upset with a 25-20 win in the fourth, dealing USD just its sixth defeat of 2021.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set - (Pacific, 25-21)

• A back-and-forth affair in the first set culminated in a 14-14 tie after Grace Frohling leveled the score with a kill.
• After USD fell behind, Frohling brought her team back within two with another kill.
• Sophomore Leyla Blackwell kept the Toreros in it down the stretch with a kill to make it 21-17 Pacific, but the Tigers eventually took the first set by a 25-21 margin to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the match.

Second Set - (Pacific, 25-22)

• Frohling again got her team off to a strong start with a kill in the second set, helping USD jump out to a 1-0 lead.
• Senior Katie Lukes came out swinging with a kill to even the score at two points apiece, then she brought the Toreros back within one at 15-14 Pacific several points later.
• Lukes was a factor again later in the set, cutting the Tigers' lead to three with a booming kill before USD got back within two after a lengthy rally and another kill from Lukes.
• The San Clemente, California native continued her second-set dominance with another kill to make it a one-point game at 23-22 Pacific.
• Despite Lukes and Frohling each reaching nine kills in the second set, Pacific took it by a 25-22 margin to extend its match lead to 2-0.

Third Set - (San Diego, 25-18)

• After a back-and-forth battle in the set's early stages, USD jumped out to a 10-5 advantage on a service ace from senior libero Annie Benbow, then expanded it to a 15-7 margin courtesy of a service ace from redshirt sophomore Isadora Terçariol.
• The lead stretched to an 11-point, 20-9 margin thanks to a kill from Grace Frohling, then three more from the junior ended it, earning the Toreros a 25-18 win in the set that moved the match score to 2-1.

Fourth Set - (Pacific, 25-20)

• A combo block from Frohling and Terçariol brought USD to within three at 7-4 Pacific, then sophomore Emily Wilson cut the deficit to 11-9 Tigers with a kill.
• Frohling's 20th kill of the afternoon kept USD in it at 19-15 in favor of Pacific, then Lukes added another clutch kill to move the score to 22-17 Tigers.
• USD pulled within four at 24-20 after an attack error from Pacific, but would get no closer, suffering a 25-20 loss in the set and a 3-1 defeat in the match.

TORERO TIDBITS

• Frohling's 21-kill performance marked the fifth time this season she's totaled at least 20 kills, and the third consecutive match in which she's done so.
• Lukes added 11, and Benbow had a match-best 23 digs.

UP NEXT
The Toreros return home for senior night next time out on Tuesday, November 23 in what marks their final regular-season game of 2021. First serve in the Jenny Craig Pavilion is set for 7 p.m.