COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  Consecutive wins to rally from a one-game deficit lifted Whitman College's volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Occidental College Saturday afternoon at the Molten Colorado College Invitational. Earlier in the day host and fifth-ranked Colorado College defeated Whitman 3-0.

In the win over Occidental the Tigers had stolen the opening game, 25-23, before Whitman rallied.

Tied at 23-23 in the second game Whitman received kills from Anna Dawson then Shae Kanakaole to take the game and square the match. Whitman trailed 22-21 late in the third game but outscored Oxy 4-1 down the stretch to take that win and also move in front in the match score.

The clinching win, a 25-16 victory, held less drama than the previous three games as Whitman reeled off a 15-6 string when the score was tied at 10-10 to end its stay in the Rocky Mountain state with a victory and improve its season record to 3-5.

Occidental fell to 3-5 with the loss, and with its early win over Whitman host CC remained unbeaten on the season with a 7-0 mark.

Katie Sisson and Kanakaole led the Whitman attack in the victory over Oxy. Sisson led the team with 17 kills and added a pair of block assists and two assists. Kanakaole racked up 16 kills while coming up with 18 digs, which was second in the match only to teammate Codie Conching's 19.

In the loss to Colorado College (20-25, 14-25, 14-25) Sisson and Natalia Zea collected six kills each to lead Whitman's attack.

Kanakaole's efforts in Whitman's four matches at the Invite earned the senior all-tournament honors.

Its visit to Colorado closes out Whitman's non-conference portion of the schedule. Next up is Whitman's home and Northwest Conference opener Friday at 7 p.m. against Pacific (Ore.) University at the Sherwood Athletic Center.