TACOMA, Wash. – Tatum Montiel recorded a team-high nine kills, while Nora Myre added eight as Linfield volleyball (8-12, 5-8 NWC) fell to Puget Sound (14-7, 11-2 NWC) in straight sets Friday evening at Memorial Fieldhouse. The Loggers claimed the Northwest Conference matchup 25-16, 25-22, 25-20.
Linfield opened the match with early momentum, using a service ace from Kaitlyn Hough and a kill from Montiel to establish a 4-1 advantage. The Wildcats maintained their lead through the opening exchanges, with kills from Katelyn Mawdsley and Myre helping Linfield move ahead 8-6. Puget Sound responded with seven consecutive points to take a 13-8 lead. Linfield attempted to close the gap behind kills from Madison Millard, Mawdsley and Hough, but the Loggers maintained control down the stretch to secure the opening set 25-16.
The Wildcats delivered a stronger showing in the second frame, overcoming an early 3-0 deficit to take a 5-4 advantage. Montiel and Mawdsley contributed kills during the rally before a solo block from Myre helped Linfield regain the lead at 9-8. Neither team established a significant advantage through the middle portion of the set, with the score tied at 15-15 following a service ace from Naia Alefaio-Foifua. Puget Sound eventually built a 20-16 lead, but Linfield continued battling. Hough recorded a kill and Millard followed with a solo block to cut the deficit to 20-18. Montiel added two late kills, including one that brought the Wildcats within 24-22, before the Loggers closed out the set 25-22.
Linfield again started quickly in the third set, taking a 4-2 advantage behind a kill from Mawdsley and consecutive Puget Sound attack errors. The Loggers answered with a 7-1 run to move ahead 9-5. Linfield continued to fight back, with Myre and Mawdsley contributing kills to keep the Wildcats within striking distance. Trailing 17-12, Linfield put together a three-point run highlighted by consecutive kills from Myre and a solo block to narrow the margin to 17-15. Myre continued to lead the offensive charge with several late kills, while Montiel added another to bring the score to 23-20. Puget Sound claimed the final two points to complete the sweep with a 25-20 victory.
Montiel led the Wildcats offensively with nine kills on 28 attempts, finishing with a .250 hitting percentage and four digs. Myre followed with eight kills, eight digs, a service ace and two solo blocks. Mawdsley delivered an efficient performance with six kills on 12 attempts, hitting a team-best .417 among players with multiple kills.
Hough contributed four kills and two service aces, while Millard added two kills, two solo blocks and an ace. Alefaio-Foifua anchored Linfield's defensive effort with a team-high 12 digs, four assists and a service ace.
Margaritah Banuelos distributed a team-high 14 assists and collected six digs, while Kaarina Geymann added 10 assists and two digs in one set of action.
As a team, Linfield finished with 30 kills, 30 assists, five service aces, 38 digs and four solo blocks. The Wildcats hit .096 for the match, compared with Puget Sound's .235 hitting percentage and 39 kills.Â
Volleyball continues the road trip tomorrow evening across Tacoma, taking on the Pacific Lutheran Lutes at 6 p.m.
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