WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The visiting Loggers from the University of Puget Sound stole a 3-2 come-from-behind victory from host Whitman College Friday evening in Northwest Conference action at Sherwood Athletics Center.

The Missionaries (8-10, 4-5 NWC) broke out to a 2-0 lead by taking the first two games by counts of 25-22 and 25-16, but the Loggers (8-10, 7-2) rallied with victories in three consecutive games to complete the improbable comeback.

Riley Jordan distributed the attack for Whitman by registering a match-high 50 assists while also adding in six digs, one service ace and two block assists. Shae Kanakaole was the leading recipient of Jordan's assistance, knocking down a team-best 17 kills. Kanakaole also led the team in digs with 17 in the five-set loss.

Whitman looked as if it would halt the Puget Sound rally in the fifth set, taking an 8-6 lead into the mid-game changeover. The Loggers pulled even with the next two points, however, and following an exchange of points they resumed the lead for good at 11-10 before closing out the deciding game by a 15-12 score.

The Missionaries built momentum from late in the first game all the way through a second game in which it never trailed after leaping ahead 7-3 using two service aces and a kill from Kanakaole sandwiched around a Loggers attacking error to break away from a 3-3 tie.

Puget Sound kept the opening game tight but owned only a quartet of one-point leads – 1-0, 7-6,  19-18 and 20-19 – while Whitman simply looked like the stronger squad in rallying back each time to build small leads.

Consecutive kills from Kanakaole and Natalia Zea, with the last two, finished off the Game 1 victory for Whitman.

Abby Seethoff compiled a solid night for Whitman with 12 kills, two service aces, six digs and one solo block. Zea and Megan Bafus contributed 10 kills each to the Whitman attack during the loss.

Puget Sound was led on the attack by Shawna Smith's 19 kills. She gained help at the net from teammate Nicolette Reynaud's 18 kills. As a team the Loggers were able to pick up 82 digs on defense, compared to 71 digs from the Missionaries' defense.

Northwest Conference action continues Saturday for Whitman as No. 17 Pacific Lutheran University visits the Athletics Center for a 5 p.m. match.