Box Score

PARKLAND, Wash. – The good feelings from Friday night's victory were cut short Saturday for the Whitman College volleyball team as it fell, 3-0, to host Pacific Lutheran University in a Northwest Conference match at Names Family Court. Shae Kanakaole and Natalia Zea led the Missionaries' attack in the loss, compiling a combined 12 of the team's 20 kills on the night.

Whitman (5-6, 1-1 NWC) had hoped to ride the momentum from Friday's win over the University of Puget Sound to an upset victory at PLU (9-2, 2-0) Saturday but the two-time NWC-champion Lutes overcame a scrappy Missionaries squad.

Early action in Game 1 saw the Missionaries in the lead or tied through to a 15-15 deadlock. The Lutes finally took their first lead of the game at that point and finished off the opening win by a count of 25-18.

Whitman lead early again as Game 2 got underway but PLU wrested the lead away at 9-9, reeling off nine straight points to build a cushion it would hold through to a 25-15 win. The momentum from the Game 2 finish spurred the Lutes as they began the third game, one in which the Missionaries were unable to get on track during a 25-17 loss.

Kanakaole put down a team-best seven kills with Zea adding in five more. Kanakaole also led the Missionaries in digs (12) and blocks (2.5 total). Zea chipped in 1.5 blocks and both Kaileah Akker and Abby Seethoff came up with 2.0 blocks each.

Setting up the Whitman attack in the loss was Anna Dawson who registered 19 set assists.

Pacific Lutheran was led on the attack by Lucy Capron's 12 kills while Kylai Cooley added eight and knocked down four service aces.

Whitman heads back on the road for its next outing, a trip to Spokane, Washington, to take on host Whitworth University in a Northwest Conference match Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.