By Kevin Niendorf / Record Correspondent
STOCKTON – The only team outside hitter Emily Baptista seriously talked to while being recruited at Hilmar was the University of Pacific, which offered her a scholarship as a freshman.
At Saturday contest against visiting Saint Mary’s, the sophomore’s talent did the talking for her as she collected a career-best 26 kills and ended the critical fifth set with her only ace of the match. The Tigers’ 20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 22-25, 15-11 victory at Spanos Center kept alive the team’s chances of qualifying for the postseason.
Pacific (13-13 overall 8-7 West Coast Conference,) next battles Gonzaga at home Thursday, needing a victory to stay the course for a third-place finish.