The Linfield volleyball team came up empty-handed with losses to Pacific Lutheran University and George Fox University on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21.
The second game of the weekend matched the Wildcats up against the George Fox Bruins on Oct. 21.
The first set started out slow for the Wildcats, falling into a 7-15 hole. The ’Cats rebounded, closing the gap to a 22-23 deficit. The Bruins would not be denied, taking the set on the next two points with a kill and a Linfield error, winning 22-25.
The next set could only be described as a nail-biter. With 11 ties and five lead changes, the two teams were matched at 25-25 before two kills by Linfield sophomore Kailana Ritte-Camara gave the set to the Wildcats 27-25.
After the intermission, the Bruins came out strong, jumping to an 11-4 lead and never looking back. The Bruins took the third and fourth sets 18-25 and 16-25.
“We were our own worst enemy,” junior Shayli Coppock said. “We let them back in the game too often by making mistakes on our side.”
Ritte-Camara led the Wildcats with 13 kills, sophomore Victoria Thompson added four blocks and freshman Courtney Uyeda had 25 digs.
On Oct. 20, the Wildcats traveled to Tacoma, Wash., to face 16th-ranked Pacific Lutheran.
The game started on a good note for the Wildcats, coming back from a 2-7 deficit to tie the first set at 14-14. The ’Cats kept at it and finally won the first set 28-26 on an ace from sophomore Audrey Frazier.
“We matched them with our pace and our defense was really scrappy, so we kept a lot of balls in play,” Coppock said.
After losing the first set, Pacific Lutheran responded, winning the next three sets convincingly at 18-25, 9-25 and 22-25.
Neither of the teams were efficient at the net. PLU posted a .105 attack percentage and the ’Cats were particularly poor with a percentage of -.026. The play was clearly evident with the 39 errors committed by the Wildcats.
Thompson led the Wildcats with eight kills and two blocks. Uyeda had 27 digs and Frazier had 29 assists.
“This week we’re going to focus on our side and work to keep the pressure on the other team by having a solid offense that’s consistent,” Coppock said.
The Wildcats only have two more weeks until their season is concluded. Their next game is at home on Oct. 24 when they face Pacific. The ’Cats then travel to Tacoma, Wash., to face the 15th-ranked Puget Sound Loggers on Oct. 27.
Chris Haddeland
Culture editor
Chris Haddeland can be reached at
Kate Straube/Photo editor
Sophomore Kailana Ritte-Camara passes the ball to sophomore setter Audrey Frazier during the George Fox match Oct. 20, losing 3-1. Ritte-Camara serves as the Wildcats’ leading attacker. During the match against the Bruins, she had the most attacks with 13.
