The Pioneers fell in three games, 30-27, 30-25, 30-28 to the visiting Whitman Missionaries Saturday at the Pamplin Sports Center. Sara Kettler had 11 kills for the Pioneers.

In game one, Whitman broke open a 16-16 tie by going on a 7-2 run, extending their lead to 23-17 on an ace by Lydia Hayes. Whitman seemed to be in complete control of the game, taking a 28-20 lead on a service ace by the Leslie Compean. Sara Kettler (senior, Dana Point, Calif.) landed a kill for the Pioneers to get a side out. Kettler went back to serve, guiding her team five straight points, pulling within two, 28-26. A kill by Rosa Brey gave Whitman game point. Brea closed out the game with a kill, earning Whitman the 30-27 victory.

In game two, Whitman trailed 7-6 early in the match, but then rattled off six straight points to take a 12-8 lead. The Pioneers pulled within one, 12-11, until Whitman took advantage of a string of Pioneer errors to score nine straight points and take a 21-11 lead. Three straight service aces by the Pioneers' Kelsey Neussl (junior, Kodiak, Alaska) helped the Pioneers get back into the game, but the Missionaries held on for a 30-25 victory.

In game three, it was the Pioneers turn to break the deadlock, 17-17, to edge out to a slim lead, 23-20 on a kill by Katherine Fiedler (freshman, San Diego, Calif.). The Pioneers extended their lead to four, 26-22, before the Missionaries got a sideout on a kill by Leslie Compean. Two kills by Rosa Brey combined with three Pioneer errors gave Whitman a 28-26 advantage. The Pioneers earned a sideout on a kill by Sara Kettler, 27-28. Whitman countered with a kill by Leslie Compean to give Whitman match point, 29-27. The Pioneers pulled back within one, 29-28 on a sneak attack by setter Lara Smith, 29-28. Whitman managed to close out their second attempt at match point with a kill by Rosa Brey.

The Missionaries Rosa Brey had a match-high 20 kills. She also had six blocks (four solo, two assisted), an aces, and seven digs. Leslie Compean had 11 kills, four assisted blocks, and six digs. Kaelyn Merkel had 21 digs, six kills, and three service aces.

For the Pioneers, Sara Kettler had 11 kills to lead L&C. Katherine Fiedler had 7 kills with one error on 14 attacks (.429 attack percentage).

With the victory, the Missionaries pull to .500 with an 8-8 overall record and 4-4 in the NWC. The Pioneers finish their first trip through the NWC teams with a 2-6 Conference record and a 6-12 overall mark.

The Pioneers are home again next weekend, the action beginning Friday night, October 12, when they host the Puget Sound Loggers.