TACOMA, Wash.  Three Whitman players notched double-digits in kills Friday evening, but the Blues weren't able to overcome 11.5 blocks by host University of Puget Sound which rallied for a 3-2 Northwest Conference victory on its home court in Memorial Fieldhouse.

Megan Henry and Kalli Dickey knocked down a team-best 16 kills while Katie Sisson added 12 for Whitman (0-6, 0-1 NWC), but the Loggers (4-4, 1-0) got 19 from Rita Dexter and piled up a 6.5 block advantage to help scratch out wins during their 22-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-20 and 15-8 victory.

Whitman never trailed during its opening-game win then sparred with the Loggers across the entirety of the second.

Puget Sound was able to maintain its late momentum from the Game 2 victory into the start of the third, racing out to an 6-2 lead, but Whitman rallied back with a 12-5 run to wrest away the lead.

The Loggers pulled off their own rally to creep back within two at 24-22, only to have Henry knock down a kill to close out the game.

As if the fourth game would be any different, both nabbed short-lived leads while never letting the other build up up much momentum. Finally, though, the Loggers scored some breathing room at 12-11 to eventually earn a five-point win, then rolled out of the gate with a quick 4-0 lead to start the deciding fifth. Whitman wasn't able to climb back this time, falling short of its upset bid over last season's third-place NWC teams.

Anna Dawson finished the night with a Whitman-best 44 set assists and four service aces, while Codie Conching picked up 25 digs.

Whitman continues its road trip Saturday with a league match in Parkland, Washington, against host Pacific Lutheran University.