Women's Volleyball Fall to Evergreen State College in Four Sets
WWU Sports Information
College Place, Wash. – Walla Walla hosted the Geoducks of Evergreen State College (ESC) on Thursday evening for their first matchup of the season. Despite a career-high from Krista Schafer (21 assists), the Geoducks (6-8, 4-1 CCC) took the final two sets after a 1-1 tie, claiming the match in a four-set victory over the Wolves ((1-11, 0-5 CCC), 25-17, 20-25, 17-25, 25-18.
In the early stages of the opening set, the Geoducks doubled-up the Wolves 12-6. The teams’ battled back-and-forth for the next stage of the set, as the Wolves cut into the deficit, trailing 19-16. The Geoducks responded, however, reeling off a 5-0 run and eventually claimed the opening set, 25-17.
Set two saw the Wolves start strong, putting the Geoducks in a hole early and extending the lead to 14-6, highlighted Sydney Teel and Sarah Halversen kills, in addition to some untimely errors from the Geoducks. Despite starting slow, the Geoducks put together a run of their own, putting together a 6-0 run to cut into the Wolves deficit. The Wolves, however, stymied the Geoducks run and took set two, 25-20.
The Geoducks wasted no time in set three, scoring 10 of the first 13 points to hold a 10-3 lead. Unfortunately for the Wolves, they played even with the Geoducks the rest of the way and could not overcome their slow in the third set, dropping set three, 25-17.
With their backs against the wall down 2-1 in the match, the Wolves came out in set four neck-and-neck in the early stages before the Geoducks put together a run to extend their lead 14-7. The teams continued to battle back-and-forth, although the Geoducks built a 22-12 lead to put the pressure on the Wolves. Despite a 22-12 deficit, the Wolves battled back to a 23-18 deficit, however, it was too late, as the Geoducks closed the door and scored the final two points and claimed match victory, 3-1 with a 25-18 win in set four.
The Geoducks were led by Lily Stewart (13 kills) and Chloee Hunt (12 kills), while setter Lexi Sanchez recorded a career-high 37 assists.
Walla Walla was led by Gabrielle Browning, who picked up a double-double (12 kills, 10 digs) and Sydney Teel (10 kills), who both notched season highs on the season. Krista Schafer and her career-high 21 assists led the Wolves in the passing department.
Walla Walla looks to move on, hosting the Eagles of Northwest University on Sunday, September 22 at 11 a.m. on Windemuth Court. The Geoducks will continue their road trip, facing No. 8-Ranked Eastern Oregon University on Friday, September 20 at 7 p.m. inside Quinn Coliseum.