Dec. 17, 2007

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific women's volleyball team signed their second transfer athlete in two seasons as the Tigers inked Mallori Gibson (Bakersfield, Calif.) from Colorado for the 2008 season.

A 2005 graduate of Foothill High School in Bakersfield, Gibson comes to Pacific after two and a half years at Colorado. Mallori played in three matches for the Buffaloes, but was forced to end her freshman campaign due to nerve damage in her right arm. Gibson's injury did not require surgery and she returned to the starting lineup for Colorado during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. In addition, Mallori was awarded a medical redshirt for the 2005 season.

A member of the 2005 Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, Mallori will enter Pacific in January of 2008 with two years of athletic eligibility remaining, pending continued academic progress in her final semester at Colorado.

Gibson was named to PrepVolleyball.com's Top 250 while attending Foothill High School in Bakersfield. She graduated with a 4.5 GPA and was named CIF Central California Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

"There are a couple of reasons I choose Pacific. Academically I want to go into physical therapy and Colorado doesn't have the program I want to follow. Also the tradition at Pacific was a factor, the program is improving and I want to get back closer to home so that family and friends can watch me play," said Gibson.

In just over two seasons at Colorado, Mallori collected 679 kills and averaged 3.16 kpg. She also delivered 61 service aces and posted a total of 781.5 points. Gibson led the Buffaloes with 27 service aces last season and ranked seventh in the Big 12 Conference with 0.33 aces per game. She was second on the team with 374 points, 322 kills and 3.10 kills per game.

"Mallori has a chance to contribute immediately and significantly, but we won't know how she fits into our team until she gets in the gym and starts competing with everyone else," said Pacific head coach Charlie Wade.