The Pioneer volleyball team celebrated senior night with a 30-22, 30-24, 23-30, 26-30, 15-10 upset victory over the Linfield Wildcats Friday night at the Pamplin Sports Center. Senior Sara Kettler had 15 kills and five blocks in the victory.

In the Pioneers final home game of the season, and the final home game in the careers of defensive specialist Jaime Hamilton (senior,  Santa Rosa, Calif.), setter Lara Smith (senior, Vashon Island, Wash.), libero Leah Collins (senior, Philo, Calif.), middle blocker Sara Kettler (senior, Dana Point, Calif.) and outside hitter Nicki Smith (senior, Brea, Calif.), the Pioneers were hosting the Linfield Wildcats, a team who came into the night tied for second place in the NWC.

With most of the players families in attendance, the Pioneers jumped out to an early lead, extending it to a 13-3 margin on back-to-back aces by Kettler. The Pioneers had momentum through the entire first game, taking advantage of a listless Linfield team to earn the 30-22 victory.

 The Wildcats showed life in game two. Katelyn Baker contributed her sixth kill of the game for the Wildcats to knot the seesaw game at 17-17. After a kill by the Wildcats Kelsey French and then a Linfield error to give the Pioneers the side out, L&C's Kelsey Neussl (junior, Juneau, Alaska) was serving in an 18-18 game. The Pioneers scored five straight points, including an ace by Neussl to take a 23-19 lead and earn the momentum swing. The Wildcats pulled within two, 25-22 on another kill by French, by the Pioneers countered with a Nicki Smith kill. Three kills by Sara Kettler in the final six points of the match, including the game winner, gave the Pioneers a 30-24 victory.

After the break, the Wildcats came back to the court re-energized, jumping out to an 18-10 lead. The Pioneers narrowed the margin, drawing within three, 20-17, but the Wildcats went on an 8-1 run, and the Pioneers were down 28-18. Five straight Linfield errors put the Pioneers back in the match, 28-23, but it was too little too late as the Wildcats hung on for a 30-23 victory.

In game four, the Wildcats took control of a one-point game, 16-15, by going on another 8-1 run including three kills by Kelsey French. The Pioneers strung together a run of their own, once again fueled by a pair of Kettler kills, to make it a 26-23 game, but the Wildcats hung on for a 30-26 victory, closing out the game with a kill by Emily Vuylsteke.

In the deciding game, the Pioneers got a kill from Katherine Fiedler (freshman, San Diego, Calif.) to earn a sideout with a one point lead, 3-2. Senior Jaime Hamilton rotated into the game to serve and led the Pioneers to six straight points to take a 9-2 lead. The Pioneers closed out the game on a kill by senior Sara Kettler to win the game 15-10 and the match 3-2.

For the Wildcats, Katelyn Baker had 25 kills on 63 attacks. She also had 11 digs. Kelsey French had 16 kills with eight digs. Emily Vuylsteke had 11 kills with three blocks.

For the Pioneers, Sara Kettler had 15 kills, five blocks (two solo, three assisted), four digs, and four service aces. Katherine Fiedler had 16 kills with six blocks (three solo, three assisted). Kelsey Neussl had 12 kills, 12 digs, and two aces. Niki Smith had 14 kills and two blocks assists.

With the win, the Pioneers improve to 8-15 (4-9 NWC). The Wildcats fal to 13-9 (8-5 NWC).

The Pioneers head to Salem Saturday night for a 7pm match against the Willamette Bearcats.