by Christina Russell

Whitman volleyball lost to Oregon’s Pacific University last Friday night in a close competition, one of the few home matches of what has been a travel-intensive season for these athletes.

Last season, Whitman went 1-1 with Pacific   University, with each team claiming a win on their opponent’s home court.

However, nine years prior to this, Whitman surfaced, in 17 out of 20 games between the two schools, as winners.

Missionaries lost 23-25 in their first round and lost again in their second   match 25-30.

After a quick team meeting, the girls arrived back on the court for a spectacular and triumphant third round, a win for the Missionaries 30-25.

“They really stepped it up,” said freshman volleyball-enthusiast Natalie Popovich, of Whitman’s   performance in match three. “They really put up a valiant effort.”

They held on for the fourth round, but it wasn’t enough. Pacific University pulled ahead in the end and took the win in the 5th match.

Senior Kate Borsato, sophomore Rosa Brey and senior Emily Seider are leading the Missionaries this year as team captains.
In stats, Emily Seider is also surfacing as a winner, with a hitting average of .330, which is the top hitting average for the Northwest Conference.

After this match, Whitman will be entering the second half of the Northwest Conference season with a 4-5 record.

Including this loss, the team has lost the last three Northwest Conference games, all of which were played on the road.

Fortunately for the girls, this game against Pacific University marked only the first of six Northwest Conference games on home turf.

So bundle up in Whittie spirit, grab all your friends, and settle in to the   Sherwood bleachers at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 13th and again at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 14th. This weekend the missionaries will be playing the Wilamette Pirates with a   0-6 record and the Linfield Wildcats with a 7-1 record.

The girls encourage everyone to come enjoy the match and help cheer them on.