The Pioneer volleyball team fell 30-26, 30-20, 30-28
at Linfield
Friday night. Sara Kettler had eight kills and five blocks for the
Pioneers.
After falling behind 21-9 in game one, the Pioneers rallied,
pulling within three, 26-23, on a kill by Sara Kettler (senior,
Dana Point, Calif.). Facing game point at 29-25, the Pioneers held
off the Wildcats, pulling within three again on a kill by Cayley
Rassmussen (freshman, San Diego, Calif.) before Linfield's outside
hitter closed out the match 30-26.
The fire that ignited the Pioneers' rally in the second half of
the first game failed to re-ignite at the start of game two. The
Pioneers fell behind 14-4 and never really caught up, falling
30-20.
In Game 3, the Pioneers came out poised to salvage a win during
the match. L&C held a lead throughout the early portion of the
game, before Linfield got even at 16-16. With a 5-0 run the
Wildcats would lead 21-16, before the Pioneers tied the game at
25-25 on a Cayley Rassmussen kill. With Linfield in control of a
29-25 edge, the Pioneers stepped up their defensive efforts, making
some big digs and taking advantage of Linfield errors to pull
within one, 29-28, but the Wildcats got a timely kill to earn the
30-28 game three victory and the 3-0 sweep.
Nicki Smith (senior, Brea, Calif.) led the Pioneers with nine
kills. Sara Kettler had eight kills and five blocks (two solo,
three assisted).
With the loss, the Pioneers fall to 5-10 (1-4 NWC). The Wildcats
improve to 10-5 (4-1 NWC).
The Pioneers are back home Saturday night, hosting the
Willamette Bearcats. The match begins at 7pm in the Pamplin Sports
Center.
