SANTA CRUZ, Calif.  – Whitman College's women's volleyball team split its two matches Saturday in the 2016 Slugfest Tournament hosted by the University of California at Santa Cruz. In the day's first match, the Whits dropped a tight 3-1 contest to host UCSC in a match much closer than the score indicated. Whitman bounced back in the day's second game however, controlling Mills College 3-0 in a match that lasted just 57 minutes. ­
 
After falling in the first match of the day, the Whits could have hung their heads, but head coach Matt Helm felt upbeat about the team's effort, "After our match with Santa Cruz, I felt that we can compete with anyone in the country," Helm said. "We served really well as evident in our 11 aces. We also played good defense around our blocks."

The players must have felt similar as the Whits rolled past Mills. Whitman (1-1) made quick work of the Cyclones (0-2) in a 25-12, 25-15, 25-4 outing.
 
Katie Sisson had a dominant outing collecting a match-high 13 kills and seven aces. Cherokee Washington led Whitman with nine digs in the afternoon duel, and Miranda Taylor had an all-around performance with eight kills, six aces and four digs.  
 
In Saturday's early session, Whitman fell behind early 2-0. UCSC nipped the Whits 25-23 before jumping ahead 2-0 with a 25-20 win. After a quick intermission Whitman stormed back, taking the third set 25-22 before eventually falling in a 26-24 nail biter that closed out the match.
 
Whits Megan Henry and Shae Kanakaole combined for 25 kills and six aces during the match while sophomore, Codie Conching tallied 17 digs. Henry also added four aces and two blocks to her stat line. 

As the team continues to grow and mesh it will no doubt prepare them for what is to come mid-September when Northwest Conference action begins. "I think this preseason will give us the experience we need to enter into conference play," ???Helm said.

The Slugfest Tournament continues tomorrow for Whitman who will square off against NWC foe, Whitworth University at 11:30 a.m. in a non-conference contest. The Whits will then take on the Oaks of Menlo College in a match set to begin at 2 p.m.