SAN ANTONIO The challenges Sunday of another pair of nationally-ranked squads finished as they did Saturday under the same conditions: strong play from the Blues, but not quite enough to pull off the upsets as first, No. 1 Calvin (Mich.) College then next, No. 23 Wisconsin-Oshkosh defeated Whitman by identical 3-0 scores in non-conference women's volleyball action at the Trinity (Univ.) National Invitational.

The Blues (0-4) were downed Saturday by No. 14 Trinity and No. 6 Cal Lutheran University.

In Sunday's opener, the Blues' sluggish start against Calvin left them a game down after a 25-11 loss. But Game 2 was a different story as Whitman broke in front of the Knights at 11-10 and were twice within three points late before succumbing 25-22.

Calvin bounced back from a 4-1 deficit early in the third game before having to hold off a Whitman charge in the end for its 25-19 match-clinching win.

Though defeated 26-24, 25-16, 25-17 by Oshkosh, the Blues played perhaps their best game of the weekend in the opener, rolling out to leads at 3-0, 5-1 and 11-3 before standing at the precipice of a win at 24-20. The Titans would rally to knock down the next six points to steal away a win that propelled them to the match win.

Friday's late game against Cal Lutheran was also a tight match, despite the 25-19, 25-18, 25-21 sweep by the Regals.

None of the game were runaway victories, with the Blues unable to clear the hurdle for a game victory. Cal Lutheran's .233 attack percentage, including zero attacking errors in Game 2, helped the Regals keep Whitman's challenges just out of reach.

For the weekend, Megan Henry led the team in kills with 18 while Codie Conching chipped in 15 and Brooke Randall added 14.

Anna Dawson, who had a career year last season, dished out 57 assists to help buoy the attack.

Defensively it was Randall and Lara Temel coming up with the blocking stats, combining for 12 total blocks. On the floor Claire McCarthy cleaned up with a team-best 28 digs, but Cherokee Washington (23 digs), Dawson (23) and Conching (20) weren't far behind.

Temel had solid numbers across the stat sheet over the four matches, allowing her to join Henry on the all-tournament team.

Whitman returns to the Northwest for its next match, a non-conference contest Wednesday against Blue Mountain Community College in the Blues' home opener at the Sherwood Athletics Center.