Pioneer women's volleyball team fell to the Linfield Wildcats 25-19, 19-25,
25-17, 25-23. Margaret Dowling led the team with 15 kills.
Linfield started the first set strong, jumping out to a 21-12
lead over the Pioneers. The Pioneers narrowed the lead to five late
in the set, 23-18, on a block by Katherine Fiedler (sophomore, San
Diego, Calif.) and Jessamy Holland (junior, Honolulu, Hawaii).
Linfield closed out the set with a block by Kelsey Habura and Rosa
Gimson to earn the 25-19 victory.
In the second set, the Pioneers came from behind after trailing
8-4 to score six straight and take a 10-8 lead. Linfield twice came
within a point, at 11-10 and 12-11, but the Pioneers earned a
sideout each time and kept the lead. The Pioneers went on two late
mini-runs with a service ace by Kelsey Neussl (senior, Juneau,
Alaska) and strong net play by Katherine Fiedler and Sarah Hall
(junior, Vancouver, Wash.) helping to extend the lead. A kill on a
back-row attack by libero Lou Ohki (sophomore, Winton, Calif.) set
up set-point for the Pioneers which they won on a Linfield attack
error to earn the 25-19 victory.
Coming back after the break, the Pioneers and the Wildcats
played a tight set, with the third frame knotted at 11-11. A kill
by the Wildcats' Rosa Gimson put Linfield up 12-11. They would
never trail again in the set, rattling off four and five point runs
to give them a 24-17 advantage. Another Kelsey Habura block, this
time assisted by Kelsey French, closed out the set with Linfield
taking frame 25-17.
In the final set, Linfield jumped out to a quick lead. The
Pioneers trailed 19-13 in the set when four straight Linfield
errors pulled the Pioneers witin two, 19-17, but a kill by Rosa
Grimson gave the Wildcats a sideout and kept the lead in tact. The
Pioneers came back again, pulling within a point, 21-20 on another
backrow attack by Lou Ohki. The Pioneers tied the set on a setting
error by the WIldcats and then took a 22-21 lead on a kill by
Kelsey Neussl. Linfield tied the set, 22-22, on a kill by Emily
Vulysteke. A pair of Pioneer errors set up match point for the
Wildcats. Katherine Fiedler staved off the first match point with a
huge hit and kill, but Linfield finished off the Pioneers on a big
hit of their own, an attack by Kelsey Habura that landed in bounds
to earn the Wildcats the 25-23 victory and the 3-1 match win.
Tara Hill led the Wildcats with 16 kills. She also had 12
digs.Kelsey French had 12 kills, 12 digs, and two block-assists.
For the Pioneers, Margaret Dowling led the team with 15 kills, 9
digs, and a block assist. Katherine Fiedler had 14 kills and three
blocks.
With the loss, the Pioneers (13-9, 8-3 NWC) lose their share of
first place, falling a game behind the Pacific Lutheran Lutes, and
are now tied with the Puget Sound Loggers in second place. Linfield
improves to 9-6 overall and 5-6 in the NWC.
The Pioneers will head to Tacoma Saturday night, taking on the
#19 Pacific Lutheran Lutes. The match begins at 7pm.
