LACEY, Wash. – Junior Victoria Love (Seaside, Calif./Seaside HS/Hartnell College) threw down 20 kills but it wasn’t enough as the Evergreen Geoducks fell to the Saint Martin’s Saints in four sets in a non-conference volleyball match on Tuesday evening at Marcus Pavilion in Lacey, Wash.
Meeting for the first time since 2010, the two Thurston County rivals were well-matched early. An 8-1 SMU run gave the Saints an advantage that the Geoducks just couldn’t overcome as SMU took the first frame, 25-17.
The second set belonged to the Geoducks but not without a fight from the host Saints. SMU pulled within two points at 22-20 but the Geoducks held on to collect the 25-22 set two win to tie the match at one set each.
Evergreen struggled in the third set as the Saints pulled out to an early lead and the Geoducks couldn’t complete the comeback. The green and white got within three points late but the Saints held on for the 25-19 set three win.
It looked like the Geoducks would force a fifth set early as the Geoducks led early. With the score at 17-16 in favor of the Geoducks, Saint Martin’s went on a 9-1 run to clinch the match with a 25-18 set four win.
The Geoducks were led by the 20 kills from Love, who hit .283 on the night. Molly King (Centralia, Wash./Centralia HS/Tacoma CC) added 11 kills. Kelsey Delagrange (Longview, Wash./Kelso HS/Mt. Hood CC) put up 40 assists. The Geoducks hit .176 on the night, connecting for 46 kills and 21 errors on 142 total attacks.
Saint Martin’s was led by 18 kills from Kristyn Ross. Carrie Starbuck and Kyra Davidson each had 10 kills on the night. Cymbree Decosta put up 39 assists while Jessica Riddle added 23 digs in the win. SMU hit .266 on the night with 52 kills and 16 errors on 139 attacks.
The Geoducks return to the court on Friday night when they play host to Corban in a Cascade Conference match. First serve with the Warriors is set for 7 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.