TACOMA, Wash. - Whitman College's volleyball team gave nothing away Friday evening in Memorial Field House at the University of Puget Sound, challenging the Northwest Conference's preseason No. 3 squad in each game before dropping a 3-0 decision to the host Loggers in the league opener for both teams.

Each of the three games saw Whitman (2-5, 0-1 NWC) battle back from large deficits against the Loggers (4-5, 1-0), rallying from 10 back in the first but dropping the opener 25-19, mirroring the 10-point deficit and rally in the second but this time pulling even at 21-21 before falling 25-22 and finally, rallying from five back early to coming within a point at 21-20 only to drop the final game by another 25-22 count.

Shae Kanakaole tied for match-high honors on the attack with nine kills, sharing the night with Puget Sound's Hannah Stinson.

Abby Seethoff tallied seven kills while Natalie Zea chimed in with six more to aid Kanakaole in the Whitman attack.

Defensively, Kaileah Akker came away with three block assists and three digs and defensive specialist Hannah Linsenmayer rang up a team-best 10 digs while also adding four service aces.

The Missionaries finished with 5.0 blocks on the night but the Loggers' 10.0 blocks contributed to a light .110 attack percentage from Whitman.

The coastal weekend continues Saturday for Whitman with a conference match-up at Pacific Lutheran University, the NWC preseason poll's second-ranked squad.