Wolves Make Significant Improvements, Lose to Warner Pacific in 3 Sets
College Place, Wash.-The Warner Pacific Knights (6-6, 5-5) beat the Wolves in 3 sets tonight in front of a packed crowed here at Windemuth Court. Warner Pacific College came into the game struggling, losing 4 out of their last 5 games, however they were able to find their footing against the Wolves.
The Knights got out to an early 5-2 lead after 2 kills by Janessa White and a great block by M'Kailah Redden, and they were able to maintain this lead throughout the early portion of the first set. After a strong kill by the Wolves' Maria Darling, Warner was able to go on a 4-0 run with Kealia Rosa serving, building their lead to 16-9 and forcing Wolves' coach James Thorn to take a timeout. After the timeout, 2 straight kills by Maria Darling and Lauren Barlow trimmed the Knight's lead back to 5 at 16-11. The Knight's dynamic offense then sparked a run to end the set, winning it by a score of 25-14.
The second set opened with a kill by Warner's Lauren Jones before the Wolves answered with a 5-0 run, including 2 aces by Maria Darling. The wolves maintained this lead through the early parts of the set using a smart and highly potent offensive attack. A kill by M'Kailah Redden helped pull the Knights back to take the lead for the first time in the set at 13-12 and prompted a Wolves' timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Morgan Doyle's kill and another ace by Maria Darling put the lead back in Walla Walla's hands at 14-13. The two teams traded punches and shared many long rallies in the latter part of the set until a great serve by Carly Ursino gave the Wolves a 20-19 lead. This lead wouldn't last long, however, as a couple more kills by Janessa White gave the lead back to the Knights at 22-21. Warner Pacific would hold the lead until the end of the set, winning it by a score of 25-22.
Both offenses came out strong in the third set. However it was the Knights who would gain an early advantage with the help of a couple of convincing blocks by Janessa White. A kill by Emily Allen and an ace from Lauren Barlow electrified the home crowd and brought the Wolves within one at 8-7. Krista Shafer then pulled the Wolves into the lead at 11-10, but only for a brief moment as 3 straight aces by Janessa Mast gave Warner a 13-11 lead. A fierce rally between the two teams then ensued, ending with an attacking error by Walla Walla, stretched the Knight's lead to 6 at 18-12, and forced another Wolves' timeout. Following the timeout, the Knights were able to ride their strong offense to the end of the set, winning it by a score of 25-14.
Warner Pacific's offense was in full force tonight, led by Janessa White who had 12 kills, and Kealia Rosa who accumulated 32 assists. Maria Darling led the Wolves' attack with 9 kills, followed by Lauren Barlow and Emily Allen who had 5 each. Carly Ursino led the Wolves in digs with 10, and Krista Shafer led in assists with 13.
The Wolves will look to tally their first conference win on Saturday when they take on Multnomah University at 7:30p.m.