WALLA WALLA, Wash. -
Sophie Broesamle delivered a double double with season highs of 14 kills and 14 digs but the Whitman College women's volleyball team dropped three close sets in a 28-26, 25-22, 19-25, 26-24 loss to Pacific in Northwest Conference action on Saturday night at the Sherwood Center.
Jamie Bartok posted a team-high 27 digs and Haylee Pruse added 10 more to go along with 17 assists. Ivy Hicks recorded a team-best 19 assists.
Emma Velcheck paced the Boxers (6-4, 2-1 NWC) with a match-high 25 kills and Danica Nelson added a match-best 29 digs.
Sets one and two went to the Boxers but easily could have been wins for the Blues (1-7, 0-2 NWC). Whitman's offense was clicking at the onset as Lilli Thompson drilled back-to-back kills and Broesamle added two more to help the Blues build a 12-3 lead. Later, another Broesamle kill pushed the lead to 10 points but a furious Boxer rally spelled doom for the Blues. The set headed into extra points where Whitman held a set point and staved off another before Pacific pulled out the win.
Set two saw the Whitman trail early and rally late. A 6-1 run capped by an Arina Gushchina solo block put the Blues ahead 22-21, but Mara Murphy's kill and block capped a 4-0 Boxer run to close the set. Whitman avoided the sweep with a set three win, again building a big early lead but this time locking down the win. Back-to-back kills from Quinn Pulver and three more from Broesamle helped the Blues to a 16-4 lead which they held on to extend the match to a fourth set.
Pacific sealed the match in set four despite the Blues holding set point and on the brink of sending the match to a deciding fifth set. Whitman trailed early but rallied to take a 16-13 lead off a Courtney Cline kill. Pacific responded to even the score and the two teams traded points down the stretch before the Boxers pulled out the win.
The Blues now play their conference road opener when they visit Whitworth on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m.
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