FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Regan Dean collected her fourth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 15 digs on Friday night as the Linfield Wildcats fell 3-2 to the Pacific Boxers, who won the final three sets of the match.
 
Linfield got off to a fast start leading the first set, 6-1 thanks to three-straight errors by Pacific. The Wildcats extended their lead to 16-6 on two-straight kills by Dean, closing out the first set, 25-15 on a kill by Raelynn Hammock.
 
The Boxers had the early 8-5 edge in the second set, but the Wildcats came back to tie the set at 15 on an ace by Kayla Moss.
 
Trailing 21-16 in the second set, the Wildcats won the next five points to tie the set. Linfield had five chances to close out the second set, but Pacific did not go away coming back to tie the set each time. A kill by Dean finally gave Linfield the second set, 29-27.
 
Pacific, who came into this weekend having lost three-straight was able to win the third set, 25-12. The Boxers continued their dominance in the fourth set, tying the match at two with a 25-14 win in the fourth.
 
This was just the second time that Linfield entered a fifth set in Northwest Conference play, losing to the NWC champion, Whitworth in five sets back on October 5.
 
NWC championship runner-up, Pacific was able to complete the comeback in the fifth set with a 15-11 win. Linfield came back in the match at 14-11 on a kill by Kara Thomas but lost the match on a service error.
 
Dean led the way with her double-double. Aylea Dixon continued her pace one of the top setters and servers in the NWC with 34 assists and 3 aces, she came into this weekend in the top-six in both categories including leading the conference in aces per set.
 
Maya Nakasone is top-five in the NWC with 4.18 digs per set and she kept her pace with 20 on Friday night.
 
Hammock had three blocks, while Dixon, Hannah Waterman and Lori Cimmiyotti had two each.
 
Linfield is now 1-14 in conference play, which is last in the NWC, while Pacific is 16-8 which is second.
 
UP NEXT
The Linfield Wildcats conclude their season against the Puget Sound Loggers on Saturday night at 6 p.m. A prematch ceremony will honor seniors Leisa Eto and Lori Cimmiyotti in their last career home matches.