Charles Fletcher- Sports Writer

College Place, Wash- Wolves Give Solid Showing on Senior Night, Lose To Oregon Tech in Four.

The Oregon Tech Owls (10-11, 6-9) were able to come into Walla Walla and get a win in four sets on Saturday night against a scrappy, hardworking Wolves team. The Owls entered the match ranked eighth in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, and they were looking to regain their footing after losing to Southern Oregon University last time out. 

The two teams were neck-and-neck early in the first set, as a kill by Melissa Barton tied the game at seven. An incredible hustle play by Carly Ursino kept the ball alive and set up another Melissa Barton kill to give the Wolves their first lead of the night at 9-8, forcing Owls' coach Andrew Clifton to burn his first timeout. The Wolves extended their lead in the mid-stages of the set with a convincing kill capping a 6-0 run and giving the Wolves a five point lead at 17-12. The Owls worked their way back after a kill by their leading attacker, Kelsey Sampson, brought them to within two at 21-19. That would remain the final margin as the Wolves went on to win the set 25-23 with a Morgan Doyle kill perfectly placed between Owl defenders.

The Owls went on a run to start the second set as an ace by Kelsey Sampson gave her team an early 5-1 lead.  The Wolves were then able to claw back into it after a kill by Emily Allen brought them within two at 6-8.  A kill by Mykala Rubey helped the Owls maintain their five point lead, and forced Wolves head coach James Thorn to call a timeout with the score at 17-12.  The Owls were able to ride their momentum to the end of the set, winning it by a score of 25-19.

The third set began similarly to the 2nd; the Owls opened with three straight points, however, the Wolves managed to work their way back to keep it close at 6-5. Solid attacking by the Owls helped them build a comfortable six point lead at 17-11 heading into the latter portion of the set. After a Wolves timeout, a block by Emily Allen, followed by another block from Maria Darling, brought the Wolves back to tie the game at 17, pumping up the WWU crowd.  Following an Owls timeout, an intensified Wolves team broke out a 3-0 run to make the score 20-17, and force a frustrated Clifton to take his second timeout of the set. The Owls managed to cut the Wolves lead to one at 22-21 before Samantha Szachara's block and Whitney Webster's ace helped win the set for the Owls by a score of 25-22.

The beginning of the fourth set was another back and forth affair before the Owls put together a run to formulate an 11-7 lead.  When a kill by Samantha Szachara extended the Owls lead to five at 13-8, Wolves Coach James Thorn was forced to use his first timeout. It was more of the same after the timeout, however, as the Owls continued to extend their lead, going up by a score of 18-12. The Wolves continued to battle, but the Owls attack proved to be too much as they finished the match by winning the fourth set 25-15.

For WWU, Maria Darling had one of her best games to date on Saturday, racking up 13 kills and 14 digs. Lauren Barlow also put together a good game, with 11 kills and 23 digs. And for Oregon Tech, Kelsey Sampson had a solid attacking game with 10 kills, and Victoria Porter contributed 19 assists. 

The Wolves now set their sights on next Saturday, October 29 at 7:00p.m. when they take on Northwest University. If you're in the Seattle area next weekend come out and support your Lady Wolves!

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