Box Score

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- A short-handed Whitman College volleyball team rallied from deficits in games one and three to sweep aside Walla Walla University 29-27, 25-22, 28-26 Friday night in Sherwood Center.

Whitman's season-opening victory dropped the visiting Wolves to 2-7 on the season.

"It was good to get the victory coming from behind in two of the sets," Whitman coach Carolyn Papineau said. "This team showed a lot of intensity down the stretch, with some key performances by several players."

Courtney Brewer

The Missionaries trailed 19-11 and 22-15 in the opening game before junior Anna Conrad triggered the comeback with a kill.

After Conrad teamed with junior Olivia Nielson for a block at the net and the Wolves committed two attack errors, Nielson and junior Rachel Shober slammed two more kills to keep the rally humming.

A service ace from sophomore Becca Gotz narrowed Whitman's gap to 23-22, but Heather McFadden put the Wolves on the verge of victory with a kill.

Jazmin Moledina and Annie Sing, two of Whitman's first-year players, collected the next two points with a kill and service ace to knot the score at 24-all.

Whitman worked its way to a series of four set points, getting two kills from junior Courtney Brewer and one from Moledina along the way. Brewer's second kill, followed by a bad set on Walla Walla's side of the net, gave Whitman the 29-27 win.

The Missionaries jumped in front 5-0 in the second game as Conrad drilled two kills and teamed with Nielson for two blocks.

After Walla Walla closed to within 6-5, kills by Moledina and Brewer helped Whitman extend its lead to 12-7. Two more kills by Moledina and Brewer, followed by a Walla Walla attack error, inflated the Missionary cushion to 22-17.

Up 22-19, Whitman tallied its final three points on a trio of kills, the first of which came courtesy of first-year Missionary Samantha Cahill. Shober and Moledina slammed the last two.

Rachel Shober

With game three knotted at 12-12, Walla Walla slowly pulled away, building leads of 20-16 and 23-18. Whitman again rallied, using Brewer's kill, Shober's ace and the opposition's attack error to make it 23-23.

Two kills by McFadden produced two set points for the Wolves, but service and attack errors negated both opportunities. Brewer and Cahill combined for a block on the attack miscue.

A Natalie Wilkening kill created a third set point for Walla Walla, but Cahill countered with a Whitman kill to even the score one last time at 26-26.

The Missionaries then closed out the game and match with the final two points, getting a bad set from the Wolves and a kill from sophomore Maddy Bell.

Brewer and Shober paced Whitman's attack with nine and eight kills, respectively. Brewer hit .333 while Shober also collected nine digs.

"Corie Brewer had a strong match and is really showing her ability to be an offensive threat," Papineau said. "We also got some key swings from Samantha Cahill in the third set after Anna Conrad was injured."

Moledina added seven kills and nine digs. Conrad had with five kills in the first two games.

Sophomore setter Taylor Aschenbrenner finished with 31 assists for the Missionaries. Sing, filling the libero role, led the defensive effort with 10 digs.

"We passed well tonight, which allowed us to get good quality swings on serve receive," Papineau said. "We were also aggressive from the serving line , putting pressure on them throughout the match."

Taylor Aschenbrenner

Whitman played Friday's match without its top two offensive weapons from last year. Sophomore Jillian Davis and junior Carrie Cecil were on the sidelines, nursing injuries.

McFadden sparked the Wolves with 16 kills and 14 digs. Wilkening also had a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs.

Kelsie Schafer distributed 30 assists for Walla Walla while Karissa Jacobsen picked up 16 digs.

Whitman stays at home Saturday to host a 2 p.m. match against a team of its alumni.

The Missionaries then hit the road next week, visiting Colorado College for four tournament matches.

"This was a good win for us tonight, but we have a lot to work to do to prepare for some very good opponents in Colorado," Papineau said.

Meanwhile, Walla Walla returns to its home gym for matches against the University of Montana Western at 8:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

- 30 -

CONTACT: Dave Holden
Sports Information Director
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash.
509 527-5902; holden@whitman.edu