TACOMA, Wash. — Playing on the road for the final time this season, the Linfield Wildcats pushed the Puget Sound Loggers to five sets before falling 19-25, 25-21, 15-25, 25-15, 15-9 Saturday at Memorial Fieldhouse.
How it played out
Behind Darian Stedman and Kayla Magbaleta, the Wildcats solidified an early first-set lead before dropping the second set. The 'Cats won the third set and the Loggers took the fourth, setting up a pivotal fifth set. A kill by Melanie Siacotos gave Puget Sound an 11-6 lead in the fifth set, allowing the Loggers to finally pull away. And following a second Siacotos kill, Rita Dexter drove home the kill for the match-clinching point.
Stats leaders
With 12 kills and 16 digs, Stedman was the driving force for the Wildcats. Kayla Magbaleta played a key role defensively for the Wildcats, recording 20 digs.
Dexter led the Loggers with 15 digs and 17 kills while hitting .349 at the net. Siacotos added 11 kills and Rachael Garrison recorded 21 digs. As a team, the Loggers had 12 blocks, 51 kills, 47 assists and 77 digs.
For the 'Cats, Mattie Kelly delivered 15 digs and 27 assists, and Taylor Petersen had 10 kills and four digs. Taylor Souza added eight digs while Destyni Grace recorded seven digs and 21 assists.
What it means
Following Saturday's game, Linfield drops to 9-12 overall and 3-11 in Northwest Conference action. The win boosted Puget Sound to 10-11 and 7-7 in the NWC.
Coming up
The Wildcats return to McMinnville Friday for a 7 p.m. matchup against the Whitman Blues at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.
