SPOKANE, Wash. – Struggling to find their rhythm on offense, the Evergreen Geoducks dropped a pair of non-conference matches to Great Falls and Lewis-Clark State on Saturday at the Sport Travel Northwest Invitational at the HUB Sports Center in Spokane, Wash.
Great Falls 3, Evergreen 1
A six-point run gave Great Falls the early lead in set number one as the Geoducks struggled to keep pace early. Evergreen finally found its swing, using a 7-1 rally to climb within two-point at 13-11 but a 6-1 run by the Argos put UGF back in control as they earned the 25-17 set one win.
The second set was tight early but the Argos again put together a run to pull ahead and the Geoducks couldn't fight back. UGF scored the final four of the final five points of the set to earn the 25-18 set two win.
In the third-set, Evergreen came out ready to play, putting up the frame's first six points to take the early lead. UGF battled back, eventually tying the set at 21-21 before holding match point at 24-22. The Geoducks weren't quite ready to give up as the grey-clad volleyballers scored five of the final six points to take the 27-25 set three win and force another frame.
Unfortunately for the Geoducks, the momentum didn't seem to carry into the fourth set as Great Falls took an early lead and an 11-1 run put the set, and match, out of Evergreen's reach. Scoring the final five points of the match, the Argos scored the 25-11 set four win to clinch the match and improve to 4-1 on the young season.
Evergreen was led by 11 kills from King and 10 from Latasha Lofton. Jaclyn Trinque put up 28 assists while Natimia Barker-Doss put up 19 digs in the match.
Great Falls was led by 14 kills each from Madison Wilhelm and Gabby Bienkowski. Alyssa McEwan added 10 kills to round out the Argos in double-digits. Dani Norling put up 55 assists in the win while Wilhelm added 21 digs to record the double-double.
Lewis-Clark State 3, Evergreen 1
Following a long break, Evergreen took the court again against Lewis-Clark State and it took the Geoducks awhile to warm back up. The Warriors, who were among those receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Top 25, took an early lead and the Geoducks never managed to catch back up, falling 25-15.
In the second set, LCSC put up six straight points to build an 11-5 lead as the Geoducks yet again had to play from behind. Down 24-15, Evergreen put up four straight to get back within five but LCSC's JaLisa Jose threw down a kill to clinch the second set, 25-19.
The third set was the tightest of all the frames as both teams traded points for much of the game. Tied 18-18, Evergreen put up six-straight points to take a 24-18 lead as the Geoducks held on for a 25-20 set three win following a kill by Brandee Victorino.
Evergreen gave it everything they had in the fourth set as they attempted to force a fifth set. Trailing by just one at 21-20, the Geoducks saw their hopes vanish as LCSC scored the final four points of the match to clinch the contest with a 25-20 set four win.
Victorino led the Geoducks with 17 kills and just three errors on 36 total swings for a .389 hitting percentage, also adding five blocks. King added 11 kills in the loss, also committing just three errors for a .308 clip. Barker-Doss dug out 20 balls while Trinque finished with 33 assists.
LCSC was led by 12 kills from Marissa Verduci, the only Warrior in double-digits. Roby Schirmer put up 27 assists while Russia Robinson led the Warriors with 12 digs.
The Geoducks wrap up the Eastern Washington road trip on Sunday afternoon when they stop in Ellensburg on their way home to scrimmage against NCAA Division II Central Washington. First serve with the Wildcats is tentatively set for 12:30 p.m.