The Loggers triumphed against the Wildcats in an intense battle going to a fifth set. Puget Sound beats Linfield 24-26, 16-25, 28-26, 25-22, and 18-16.

“I think we played really good. It’s always hard to lose after you win two games, but it shows us that we can hang with the top of the conference” Darian Stedman, ’19, said.

Stedman added, “We just have to keep working in practice to improve and cut down our errors.”

The Wildcats had a total of 68 kills, 31 errors, 205 total attempts and a hitting percentage of .180 ending the evening.

Linfield was caught multiple times by the two point victory rule in the third and fifth set. If both teams are tied at match point 25, they play on until one team gains a two point advantage. If their set winnings are equal, a fifth set is played to crown a victory.

The first and second sets had a hitting percentage of .231 and .229. The first set had 15 kills, six errors and 29 total attempts, and, second set came out with 16 kills. Five errors and 48 total attempts.

Attack was led by Stedman, with 19 kills, 57 total attempts and .158 hitting percentage. Audrey Hyem, ’19, closely followed with 14 kills. Taylor Petersen, ’19, follows coming to 12 kills and Molly McTaggart, ’17, with 11 kills.

Casie Gaza, ’17, and Jamie Talbo, ’19, were once again assist queens. Gaza had 31 and Talbo, 23 assists. The Wildcats had a total of 65 assists for the night.

“I think the strongest point was taking the first two sets and maybe out weakest points was in set four when we didn’t quite match them in our passing and hitting,” McTaggart said.

The third and fourth set fell to the Loggers, having a hitting percentage of .020 and .176. The third set came out with 12 kills, 11 errors and 50 total attempts, and, fourth set had 11 kills, five errors and 34 total attempts.

Defense was led by Kayla Mabaleta, ’19, with 35 digs. Stedman put out 12 assists and Talbo brings out 11. The entire ‘Cats line-up contributes ending the night with 90 assists.

The fifth set had 14 kills, four errors, 34 total attempts and a hitting percentage of .294.

“It was a tough loss, but our level of play has remained high. We have a short week of practice, because we go to eastern Washington next week, but we are just hoping to re-focus and get a win next weekend,” McTaggart said.

Linfield’s season record is 8-8 and NWC record 3-7.

The Wildcats play the Whitworth Pirates 7pm, Friday in Spokane, WA.