Daniel Sokolov

Wolves Hang Tough in a Loss to New Hope

9/8/2016 11:00:00 PM

Box Score Paul Starkebaum, Sports Information Director

College Place, Wash.- Over the course of 4 sets tonight, New Hope Christian only score 6 more points than the Wolves (85-91).   While the Deacons took down the Wolves tonight 3-1, it was a back and forth battle the whole way. When asked about the match, Coach Thorn felt that in the third and fourth set the team stepped up, "…we gave a better effort but it was too late."

Late in the first set, down 21-16 Walla Walla went on a five-point run to tie it up. After some back and forth scoring, the Wolves dropped the set 26-24 off an attack error. New Hope came out on fire in set two, starting off with a 7-0 run. A shared block by Emily Allen and Nilah Mata'afa brought the score to 10-7 in the middle of the second, before New Hope asserted themselves and finished off the set 25-14.

The third set was the most dominate for the Wolves of the season. Maria Darling serve proved difficult for the Deacons to break, as the Wolves went on an early 11 point run, including 2 aces, to get the score to 11-5 before her serve was broken.   As a team the Wolves recorded 11 Kills in the third Set, and took the set 25-15.

After a slow start the Wolves found themselves down 22-14 late in the fourth set. The Wolves pieced together an 8 to 3 run but it was not enough for the comeback and dropped the final set 25-22. New Hope picked up their second win of the season and the Wolves drop to 0-3. Maria Darling lead the Wolves attack tonight with 11 kills and 11 digs. Morgan Doyle had 9 kills on the night, and Melissa Barton contributed 6 kills and 2 blocks. "Nilah stepped up and delivered 25 assists… so that was Awesome," Coach Thorn added when asked about his team's performance.

Tomorrow, at 5pm, the Wolves get back after it as they head to Multnomah (4-5, 0-3) to take on the Lions for their third conference showdown of the season. Walla Walla is at the start of their 5 games in 4 days' road trip, which continues in the Portland area this weekend.

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