Sydney Amundsen had 13 kills and hit .346 as Multnomah dropped a hard-fought 3-1 decision to Evergreen State at home Friday night.
EVERGREEN STATE 3, MULTNOMAH 1: Lions Fall to Geoducks in Hard-Fought Four-Setter
PORTLAND, Ore. – Sydney Amundsen and Patty Batoon combined for 26 kills for Multnomah University, but a stout Evergreen State College defense that made 12 blocks and 64 digs lifted the visiting Geoducks past the Lions 3-1 (25-19, 23=25, 25-13, 28-26) in a hard-fought Cascade Collegiate Conference women's volleyball match Friday night here at Lytle Gym.
Bethanie Nelson served eight straight winning points with a pair of aces as Evergreen bolted to a 14-5 lead in the first set, but the Lions clawed their way back into it as Amundsen sparked a 12-6 run with a trio of kills, making it a 20-17 game. Chloee Hunt hit winners for the Geoducks' final three points, however, as the visitors hung on to win the set.
Evergreen scored five straight to take a 5-2 lead in the second set, but three points was the largest lead either team would have. The Lions finally knotted the set 10-10 on a kill by Batoon and went ahead 13-10 on an Evergreen attack error, then maintained a slim margin until a Renita Gray kill drew the Geocuks even again at 18-18. A ball-handling error and two attack errors by ESC enabled Multnomah to regain the lead for good, and Maile Kam nailed down the set with a spike that evened the match.
Evergreen's defense shone in the third set as the Geoducks held the Lions to a minus -.030 hitting percentage. ESC never trailed in the set, built an early 10-3 lead, and remained comfortably ahead until a Gray kill ended the set.
The fourth set was back-and-forth all the way, with 14 ties and seven lead changes. Multnomah twice had chances to even the match with 25-24 and 26-25 leads, but both times Natalie Taylor posted kills to keep the 'Ducks alive. After a Lions' attack error, a combo block by Taylor and Hunt clinched the match.
--- By the Numbers: Amundsen and Batoon had 13 kills each for the Lions, with Amundsen hitting .346. Marissa Rhodes contributed 33 assists, while Sabrina DeJesus-Bair had 19 digs and Miranda Halverson 10. Amundsen, Batoon, Kam and Madysen Trout were in on two blocks each.
Taylor led all attackers with 19 kills, while Hunt and Gray added 10 each. Ashtyn Bagby posted 23 assists and Alexis Garrison had 20. Megan Breckenridge made 15 digs, Taylor 13, and Kathleena Ly 11. Nelson and Hunt had six blocks apiece, including one solo block by Hunt.
Multnomah is now 8-20 on the season and 3-16 in the CCC, while Evergreen State is 10-17 overall and 7-12 in the conference.
--- Next: Both teams end their seasons Saturday at 5:00 p.m. as Multnomah hosts Northwest University (Wash.) and Evergreen State visits Warner Pacific College … It will be Senior Night for Multnomah, and the Lions will honor seniors Batoon and Kayla Keane in pre-game ceremonies.