Box Score TACOMA, Wash. – Jillian Davis had 17 kills and Shae Kanakaole 15, but it was not enough to overcome Pacific Lutheran tonight as the Lutes downed the Missionaries in 4 sets in Northwest Conference volleyball action 25-11, 22-25, 25-21, 26-24.

The loss drops Whitman to 4-9 in conference and 6-20 on the season. PLU improves to 12-1 in the NWC and 16-5 overall.

The Lutes had four players with double-figure kills, led by Amy Wooten with 13 who hit for a .321 %.

After watching PLU pull away to take the first set, the Missionaries battled the Lutes point-for-point in the second set. The teams were tied late in the set at 21 apiece when Kanakaole put down a kill on an assist from Taylor Aschenbrenner. Kanakaole, then, provided a service ace and the Whits had a two point cushion. PLU took a timeout with the Missionaries leading 24-22, but it did not stop the momentum as Whitman closed out the set on another kill by Kanakaole.

In the third set, the Lutes grabbed a slim early lead and then spread the margin to six when they took a 21-15 advantage on a kill by Lucy Capron, who had 11 on the night. Whitman pulled to within two at 22-20 when Kanakaole converted an Aschenbrenner assist, but the Whits could get no closer – the Lutes won the next three of four points, ending the set on a kill by Allison Wood (10 kills).

The fourth set saw large swings in momentum. The Lutes jumped out to a 7-3 lead only to see the Missionaries come back and grab a 14-11 advantage on a Becca Gotz service ace. PLU pulled even at 19-all on a kill by Wooten. A few points later Abby Seethoff put down a kill to give the Missionaries a 22-20 lead. The two teams locked up again at 22 and 24-all.

With Whitman serving, PLU took a 25-24 lead when Bethany Huston registered a kill. And then, Amber Aguiar put the match on ice with a service ace. It was another tough loss for the Missionaries who have now dropped four in-a-row.
Davis added 20 digs to go along with her 17 kills for the Missionaries; Kanakaole had 19 digs. Aschenbrenner provided 41 assists.

Haley Urdahl was the fourth member of the Lutes to have double-figure kills with 12.

PLU's hitting percentage was .194; Whitman's was .116

The Lutes sweep the season series from the Missionaries 3-0.

Next Up: the Missionaries travel to Puget Sound tomorrow for a 6 pm start . . . the match can be viewed via live video at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/ups.portal#
 
Contact:
Andrew Holt
Whitman Sports Information Director
holtac@whitman.edu
509.527.5902