LIBERTY LAKE, Wash.  –  Outmanned 16 to seven, the Evergreen Geoducks fell short in their first match of 2012, falling to the 21st-ranked Carroll Saints, 3-0, in a non-conference volleyball match on Thursday evening as part of the Cascade/Frontier Red Lion Challenge at the HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake, Wash.

The Saints (3-2) sprinted off to a lead, putting up six points before the Geoducks (0-1) managed to score their first point of the season.  Carroll continued to swing past Evergreen, throwing down 14 kills with no errors on 22 attempts for an amazing .636 hitting percentage.  On the other end, the Geoducks struggled to find their grove, hitting underground with five kills and six errors for a -.036 hitting percentage as they fell 25-8.

In the second frame, the Geoducks looked much better and played with Carroll early.  The Saints eventually pulled ahead, using a four-point run at the end to take the second set by a final of 25-12. Evergreen hit .025 on the set, putting up nine kills with eight errors on 40 attacks.  Carroll looked a little less heavenly, hitting .289 with 13 kills and two errors on 38 attacks.

The third frame was all Carroll from the beginning as Evergreen began to run out of gas.  The Saints scored the first nine points of the frame as well as the last nine points of the frame to cruise to a 25-5 set three win for a three-set sweep. Carroll hit .321 in the final set, putting up nine kills with no errors on 28 attempts.  The Geoducks handed the Saints 12 points on errors, scoring just five kills on 35 attacks to hit -.200 for the frame.

The Geoducks will be back in action with a pair of matches on Friday.  Evergreen’s first match of day two is at Noon against University of Great Falls, followed by a match at 4 p.m. against Montana Western.

Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. – After showing what they can do on the course, court and pitch, seven Evergreen student-athletes have been honored for their hard work in the classroom as well, earning Bank of the Cascades Academic  All-Cascade Conference , as announced by the conference office on Tuesday morning.

Cross country led the way with three student-athletes earning honors. Senior Karissa Carlson (Pateros, Wash./Pateros HS), senior Britta Peterson (Port Orchard, Wash./South Kitsap HS) and senior Clint Posey (Lynnwood, Wash./Meadowdale HS) all received honors.

Women’s soccer had two honored as junior Rachel Torreon (Kohala, Hawai’I/Kohala HS) and sophomore Sophie Krauza (Las Vegas, Nev./Centennial HS) were honored for their hard work in the academic realm.  Men’s soccer senior Brandon Schaefer (Renton, Wash./Renton HS) represented his team while Taylor Good (Dupont, Wash./Steilacoom HS) represented the volleyball program.

To earn recognition as a Bank of the Cascades CCC scholar-athlete, a student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 and sophomore standing.

2011 Bank of the Cascades Academic All-CCC (Fall)