Warrior Volleyball Comes Up Short in First Two Matches of Puget Sound Premier
The Warriors slipped in their third five-set match of the season in a heartbreaker
(TACOMA, Wash.) — In double-headed fashion, the Corban volleyball team dropped its first two matches of the Puget Sound Premier on Friday afternoon.
The Warriors slipped in their third five-set match of the season in a heartbreaker against host institution, University of Puget Sound, 2-3 (23-25, 25-16, 25-23, 20-25, 8-15), before falling to No. 21 Pacific Lutheran University in three sets (22-25, 15-25, 19-25).
Corban vs. Puget Sound:
In one of the more entertaining matches of the Premier's opening day, the Warriors couldn't capitalize off its 2-1 set lead and eventually fell in five sets to home-standing Puget Sound, 2-3. Corban attacked for a hitting percentage of 0.182 and combined for 58 assists and 60 kills.
The opening stanza saw strong play from freshman outside hitter Shantelle Hill (Pasc, Wash.), who dialed in a pair of kills off assists from sophomore setter Haley Meili (Eugene, Ore.) to give Corban (3-3) an early 3-1 lead. Trailing 20-24, the Warriors fought back with a service ace by senior libero Katherine Salness (Portland, Ore.), a pair of kills by Hill, and an attack point by opposite hitter Miah Smith (Albany, Ore.). However, a kill by Puget Sound on the ensuing possession clinched the opening set for the Loggers.
In the second set, Corban exploded for a 14-4 run thanks to a triplet of kills by Hill and two attack points by senior outside hitter Claire Bailey (Santa, Rosa, Calif.). Puget Sound (1-1) responded with a 6-1 run, but Hill continued to cause headaches, sending a pair of kills into Logger territory to lead the Warriors to a 20-10 advantage. At set point, freshman middle blocker Karen Blackmer set up Bailey to tie the match at 1-1.
Trailing 11-13 in the third set, the Warriors used a pair of Logger errors and kills by Smith and Hill to regain the advantage. With the set knotted at 20, Bailey dialed in another kill and freshman middle blocker Sloane Morrison converted a set by Meili to give Corban a two-point lead. After a kill by Hill, Puget Sound went on to commit two errors to help Corban to a 2-1 set lead.
The fourth set found Corban trailing 10-14. Thanks to the aggressive attack of Hill, Blackmer, and freshman middle blocker Bethany Filipenko (Salem, Ore.), the Warriors managed to knot the set at 17 apiece. However, Puget Sound responded with a 5-1 run to take a 22-18 lead. Kills by Morrison and Smith gave Corban hope, but a Logger kill and an attack error by Hill sent the match to a decisive set five.
After Corban jumped to an 8-6 lead following a kill by Morrison, Puget Sound erupted to score the final nine points of the match en route to the victory.
Hill led the Warriors with her first-career double-double, recording 18 kills and 13 digs. She also finished with a season- and career-best four service aces. Bailey, Blackmer, and Smith chipped in 11, 10, and 10 kills, respectively. Meili finished with 26 assists in the match, while sophomore setter Mikenzee Frazier (Lebanon, Ore.) added 17.
The defensive effort was tailored by Salness and freshman defensive specialist Kasey Calderon (Murrieta, Calif.), who notched 24 and 23 digs, respectively.
Corban vs. Pacific Lutheran:
In the second match of their doubleheader, the Warriors fell flat against No. 21 Pacific Lutheran in straight sets. Corban registered just 33 kills in the match and attacked for a 0.171 hitting percentage.
In the opening set, the Navy and Gold found itself trailing 9-17 following a 6-0 run by the Lutes. Consecutive kills by Smith helped Corban cut the deficit to five (14-19), but Pacific Lutheran managed to keep the Warriors at bay, claiming the set, 25-22.
Corban struggled against Pacific Lutheran's 0.438 hitting percentage in set two, and the Warriors couldn't manage to rally more than two points in a row en route to dropping the second set, 15-25.
In the early stages of set three, the front line of Hill, Smith, and Bailey kept Corban within striking distance. A kill by Smith brought the Warriors to within one at 12-13, but that's as close as Corban would get. The Lutes took the final set, 25-19.
Hill led Corban's offensive attack with her second-career double-double, adding 11 kills and 11 digs. Smith chipped in 10 kills, and Meili notched seven digs and 18 assists for the Warriors. In addition, Salness kept pace on the defensive end with 14 digs.
Corban will conclude its appearance at the Puget Sound Premier on Saturday when it takes on Bethel University (Minn.) at noon.
Source: Corban Athletics
