University of the Pacific’s women’s volleyball program has built its identity this season around one deceptively simple weapon: the serve. 

The Tigers put that strength on full display Sept. 3 when they recorded a program-record 16 aces against UC Riverside in a marathon five-set win.

Junior Alessia Couchond ’28, a data science major, led the way with five service aces, a season high by an individual Tiger this season. Pacific outserved the Highlanders 16-10.

“It was great see our team go out there and execute a game plan that not many teams have been able to accomplish against UC Riverside,” said Head Coach Jeff Hendershot. “It was a great testament to our girls’ preparation and focus during a competitive match.” 

Riverside has been a difficult opponent to generate aces against. Pacific’s performance marked just the tenth time since 2010 that an opponent has recorded double-digit aces against the Highlanders. 

“The coaching staff did an excellent job preparing us for what their defense would look like and where we’d be able to find opportunities to be successful,” Couchond said. “I’m really proud of what we were able to do as a team to get the win.”

The Tigers precious singe-match program record of 15 aces was set in 2022 against Santa Clara. Service aces have long been a strength for Pacific. The team has ranked in the top 100 in service aces every year since 2017, and they reached a program-best No. 10 nationally in 2022. 

Pacific next heads to the American Southwest for three matches, traveling to El Paso, Texas, to face the University of Texas at El Paso and UC San Diego before making the trip to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to take on New Mexico State.

The trip marks the third of four non-conference weekends for the Tigers before West Coast Conference play begins Sept. 24 at Denver, the conference’s newest member. Pacific opens its home schedule Oct. 8 against Portland.

View the women’s volleyball schedule.