FOREST GROVE, Ore. – The Whitman College women's volleyball team eyed a 2-0 start to the season but came up just short, sweeping Mills (Calif.) 29-27, 25-12, 25-8 but falling in a five-set thriller to the University of Wisconsin-Stout 25-20, 12-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-10 on Day 1 of the Oregon Trail Classic, Friday at the Stoller Center.
 
Against Mills, Elyse Benavides led all hitters with 13 kills and Codie Conching added a team-high 12 digs. Amanda Aurelio had a match-high 18 digs for Mills with Myeisha Williams posting a team-best seven kills.
 
The Blues ran three setters over the three sets, the first being a true scare for Whitman. They led early but saw a 7-1 Cyclone run turn into a three-point deficit. Whitman trailed by as many as six points late in the set after an Alicia Zimmerman kill put Mills up 19-13. The Blues would make a run, tying the set at 24-24 after kills from Conching and Megan Henry and a service ace from Sierra Myers. The set went into extra points before back-to-back kills from Conching sealed the win.
 
Sets two and three proved to be little contest for the Blues who dominated from start to finish to complete the sweep. Back-to-back aces from Conching helped her team open up a 10-1 lead. Mills shaved the lead briefly but Whitman returned to form and won going away. Set three saw the Blues score the set's final eight points and complete the sweep.
 
With just a little over an hour between matches, the Blues retook the court against Stout who looked to be the dominant of the two teams with a comfortable opening set win. The Blue Devils opened up an 11-6 lead off an Emily Bialka kill and kept the momentum going off a Lexie Nelson kill that pushed the advantage to 15-8. Tate Cadang's consecutive aces cut the lead to four points but Stout pulled away to take a one-set lead.
 
Whitman turned the tables with an impressive set two win. The Blues opened up an early 9-2 lead off a Jessica Duval handling error. The run continued as Whitman controlled the net area and led 17-4 after an Benavides ace. The Blues never let up en route to tying up the match at one set apiece.
 
Stout responded with a win in another close set but Whitman pushed the match to a fifth and deciding frame. Cadang won three straight points off her serve as the Blues looked certain to even the match, but the Blue Devils responded and tied the score at 17-17 off a Bialka kill. Whitman would trail late but reeled off four straight points to win the set.
 
Set five saw Stout take an early lead and hold on for the win. Three straight points late in the frame all but put the match away.
 
Amber Ripley posted a double double for Stout with 12 kills and a match-high 21 digs. Conching had a near double double of her own with nine kills and 12 digs.
 
The tourney concludes tomorrow with matches against Elmhurst (10:00 a.m.) and UC Santa Cruz (3:00 p.m.)