SPOKANE, Wash. – Following a tough five-set loss to Westminster in their first game, the Evergreen Geoducks rebounded to sweep Walla Walla on day two of the Sport Travel Northwest Invitational at the HUB Sports Center in Spokane, Wash.
Westminster 3, Evergreen 2
After the teams kept things close early, the Geoducks used an 8-0 run to build a big lead but the Griffins didn't let up, using a 9-2 to tie the set up at 22-22. Evergreen managed to stop the WC momentum at the end of the frame, rattling off three straight points to take the first frame 25-22.
In the second frame, Westminster took control around the midpoint the match and the Griffins cruised the rest of the way to even the match at one set apiece. Neither team was able to find much of a rhythm in the third set as Evergreen found itself with a small lead late. Despite trailing towards the end, Westminster managed a 5-1 run to end the set and escape with a 25-23 win.
Evergreen got right down to business in the fourth set, building a 14-7 lead following a pair of aces from Ivy Eakes and a kill by Brandee Victorino. WC scored five straight to pull within two at 14-12 but the Geoducks held the lead the rest of the way, taking a 25-19 set win to force the decisive fifth set.
In the fifth set, it was the Griffins holding pace early as WC took a 5-1 lead before an Evergreen timeout. Westminster held the lead until an Avery Shaw ace tied the set at 14-14. A WC attack error gave the Geoducks match point at 15-14 but a pair of kills and a Geoduck error gave the Griffins the fifth set, 17-15, to clinch the match.
The Geoducks were led by 15 kills from Nicole Diehl. Victorino finished with 11 kills and six blocks in the match while Jaclyn Trinque put up 43 assists in the loss. Natimia Barker-Doss led the Geoduck defense, recording 31 digs.
Westminster was led by 17 kills from Alexis Aalona and 16 kills from Jessica Chellsen. Amara Culpepper added 13 kills while Taylor Gustofson finished with 53 assists in the win. Jaden Green led the WC defense with 21 digs.
Evergreen 3, Walla Walla 0
In the final match of the day, the Geoducks cruised to a win over Walla Walla, though the Wolves didn't make it easy the whole way.
In the first frame, Evergreen pushed the lead to double-digits early, leading 13-3 following a WWU attack error that capped an eight-point run. The Geoducks continued to pull away, using a Victorino kill to take the first set, 25-13.
The second set was very reminiscent of the first as the Geoducks found themselves leading big early yet again. A five-point run at the end of the frame gave Evergreen a 25-12 set two win as it looked like they would cruise to the sweep.
Walla Walla had other plans as the Wolves found themselves with a four-point lead midway through the set at 12-8. The Geoducks eventually shook the rust as a kill by Latasha Lofton clinched the 25-21 set three win as Evergreen earned the win.
Evergreen was led by 13 kills from Victorino, the only Geoduck in double-digit kills. Trinque added 36 assist to her season total as 11 Geoducks saw action in the win. The Geoducks hit .313 on the match, connecting for 46 kills with 15 errors on 99 total swings.
Walla Walla was led by six kills from Lauren Barlow. Alissa Casey recorded 11 assists in the loss. The Wolves hit just .026 on the match but were solid in the third set, hitting .360 with 11 of their 17 total kills and just two errors on 25 attacks.
The Geoducks wrap up action in Spokane on Saturday, taking on Great Falls at 9 a.m. and Lewis-Clark State at 3 p.m.