WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Linfield volleyball (4-3, 1-1 NWC) pushed Whitman (4-4, 2-0) throughout Saturday's Northwest Conference matchup but came up short, 25-22, 25-17, 26-24, on the road.
Similar to last night's four-set victory over Whitworth, the opening set featured 12 ties and eight lead changes as the two teams battled back and forth before Whitman pulled out a 25-22 victory. The Blue carried the momentum into the second set, taking the frame 25-17 despite Linfield's 12 kills.
The Wildcats responded with its strongest offensive performance of the night in the third, recording 13 kills with just four errors on 28 attempts for a .321 hitting percentage. The Wildcats pushed the set beyond regulation before Whitman escaped with a 26-24 win to complete the sweep. The third frame featured another 10 ties and three lead changes.
Nora Myre led the Linfield attack with 11 kills on 32 attempts, hitting .219 while adding 10 digs and a service ace for a double-double. Madison Millard finished with five kills and only one error on 11 swings for a .364 hitting percentage, while Ascha Nielsen recorded four kills without an error on seven attempts to hit .571. Nielsen, Millard and Kaitlyn Hough also helped the Wildcats total nine blocks.
Naia Alefaio-Foifua joined Myre with 10 digs and delivered four of Linfield's seven service aces. Margaritah Banuelos handed out a team-high 14 assists, while Kaarina Geymann contributed 10 assists, five digs and an ace.
Linfield finished with 32 kills, seven aces, 33 digs and nine total blocks while hitting .133 for the match.
The 'Cats compete again next Friday in Newberg at 7 p.m. against George Fox before coming home on Saturday to take on the Lewis & Clark River Otters at 6 p.m.
To follow Linfield Wildcats coverage all season long, visit golinfieldwildcats.com. Please consider following Linfield Athletics on Facebook, and @LinfieldSports on Instagram and X.com.
