MCMINNVILLE, Ore. -
Kenzie Martinez delivered a near double double with nine kills and 11 digs, but it wasn't enough to stop the Whitman College women's volleyball team from suffering a straight set loss at Linfield in Northwest Conference action on Saturday at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.
Nicole Kelly added five digs and eight kills, and Teia Magaoay chipped in 25 assists, two blocks and seven digs.
Araeya Watanabe and Paige Richards led the Wildcats (7-8, 3-5 NWC) with match highs of 12 kills and 12 digs, respectively.
The Blues (3-12, 2-6 NWC) let the opening set slip away. Double blocks from Navi Islam-Zwart and Lola Folk helped keep their team level at 15-15, but Linfield ran off four unanswered points to take a late lead. Whitman would only earn two more points in the set, both coming off Kelly kills.
Set two saw more of the same. Martinez's kill gave the Blues a 9-7 lead, the last time either team held more than a one-point lead until Whitman again went up a deuce after a Quinn Pulver kill. The two teams traded points until a trio of kills highlighted a 4-0 Wildcat run, pacing Linfield to the win and the two-set lead.
Linfield held a sizable lead early in set three, but the Blues battled back to level the score at 11-11. The Wildcats regained control and held Whitman at arms length until late in the set when an 8-2 Linfield run put the match to bed.
The match concludes a busy week for the Blues who return to action next weekend with matches at Lewis & Clark and Willamette.
#GoWhitman
