MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Lewis & Clark College volleyball claimed the second set with the help of senior Annika Traxler, hitting .462 with six kills and two service aces in the frame, but Linfield prevailed 3-1 in a midweek Northwest Conference match.

THE BASICS
 
Linfield 3, Lewis & Clark 1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-17, 25-22)
(Lewis & Clark 0-19, 0-12 NWC)
(Linfield 6-15, 3-12 NWC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Traxler led all players with 16 kills, tying her career-high while adding 10 digs for her eighth career double-double. The senior outside hitter tied her season high with five service aces.  

Senior Ella Ruark added seven kills in the match after hitting .444 (4-0-9) in the third set.

Sophomores HB Schuett and Ruby Kuerschner finished third on the team with four kills each, both tying their career highs. Schuett had three block assists, a new career high for the middle blocker. Kuerschner dished out a match-high 24 assists and added seven digs.

Senior libero Kelsie Nakashima had a match-high 16 digs to lead the Pioneers defensively.

Lewis & Clark took an early 2-1 lead in the first set behind two kills from Traxler, but Linfield swung the momentum for a 12-4 advantage. Sophomore Christi San Diego and Traxler cut the deficit to four (15-11) with back-to-back kills. Later a kill by Traxler and service ace from San Diego pulled the Pioneers within 20-16 before the Wildcats held on for the 25-18 win.

The competitive second set had eight ties and seven lead changes. Lewis & Clark pulled away from an 8-all tie for a 20-12 lead. Schuett and Kuerschner started the run with a block, and Traxler added two aces. Linfield went on a 10-0 run to take a 22-20 lead, but the Pioneers fought back, and consecutive kills from Traxler sealed the 25-23 win for Lewis & Clark.

After the break, Linfield wrangled control with a 13-3 lead in the third. Lewis & Clark pulled within 22-16 behind kills from Traxler, Ruark and Kuerschner. The Wildcats held on for the 25-17 win to take the 2-1 match lead.

The Pioneers fell behind 14-6 in the final frame but cut the Wildcat lead to 20-17 behind the serving of Traxler with two aces and a kill from Ruark. Lewis & Clark saved three match points after a hitting error from Linfield and consecutive service aces from first-year Daphne Ibrao to make it 24-22. The Wildcats finished out the match on a kill.

BY THE NUMBERS 

• Kuershner recorded career assist 903 in the match to move into the top 8 in program history.
• Lewis & Clark served up a season-high 12 aces against Linfield.
• Senior Bethany Ballesteros finished with seven digs in the match.

WHO'S NEXT
 
The Pioneers host NWC-leading Whitworth University on Friday at 7:00 p.m.