In an uncharacteristically quiet gym on the other side of Tacoma, the Loggers and Lutes slugged it out Wednesday night. Neither team was playing exceptionally well, but only one team could take home the W at the end of the night. The Lutes finished ahead 3 sets to 1 (25-23, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20).
After starting out strong in the first set, the Loggers lost their lead to the Lutes. Both teams were hitting negative percentages. Brynn Blickenstaff (Eagle, Idaho) led the Loggers with 14 kills in the match. The game changer came from the blocking. The Loggers are known in the Conference to put up strong blocks at the net, bursting the opposing teams’ hitters’ confidence. As a team that has dominated at the net for most of the season, the Loggers were uncharacteristically outblocked 14-6 in the match.
Things were looking up for the Loggers in the third set when they won 25-19. Natalie Monro (Eagle, Idaho) contributed 5 kills in the set, and the Loggers had constant service pressure with three aces. But it was not enough to stop the Lutes that night.
After a major confidence burst with their loss against PLU, the Loggers were determined to bounce back. Practices Thursday and Friday were geared toward competitiveness and all-out mentality. To sum it all up, the word of the week was “RAGE.” The Loggers needed to win their next game in order to have a shot at postseason play. With the added pressure of postseason uncertainty, the Loggers were determined to prove their worth in the Northwest Conference.
On the road playing the Pacific Boxers this Saturday, the volleyball team won in 3 sets, 26-24, 25-22 and 26-24. While it wasn’t a complete shutout, it boosted team morale. In the first game, the Loggers were fired up. The team had a combined .421 hitting percentage, with just one attack error. Match leaders were Monro with 16 kills and Blickenstaff with 14.
Before the match, the Loggers were competing for the coveted top blocking position in the NWC with the Boxers. With this in mind, the Loggers hit smart and maintained a low, disciplined block in order to negate the Boxer’s notorious block.
Starting off, the Logger defense came in too short to be effective against the Boxers. With their quick attacks, the Boxers were hitting over the block and into the deep spaces. After their adjustment, the defense made a comeback. Juliette Witous (Sonoma, Calif.), Kris Sumida (Kaneohe, Hawaii) and Marissa Florant (Palo Alto, Calif.) each had 11 digs to help the Loggers beat Pacific.
Thanks to their win against the Boxers, the Loggers will be on their way to NCAA Division III Regionals at University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their first match is against the hosting Tomcats.