Volleyball | 10/22/2009 9:46:08 PM

Box Score [Box score]

MONMOUTH, Ore. - The match started off promising for the Western Oregon University volleyball team against Seattle Pacific, but the Wolves were unable to ride the first set momentum through the rest of the match and lost in four sets to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference co-leader, 22-25, 25-23, 25-10 and 25-14, Thursday, Oct. 22.

The win for the Falcons helped them maintain at least a tie for the conference lead with Alaska Anchorage with an 8-2 league record and a 14-8 mark overall. The loss was the third straight for WOU, who fell to 7-14 on the season and 4-6 in the GNAC. The three consecutive losses matches the Wolves' longest losing streak of the season.

Senior middle hitter Lisa Martini posted an impressive .600 hitting percentage with nine kills and no errors on 15 attempts to lead the Wolves' offensive attack. Freshman Irene Walters registered the first double-double of her career with 11 kills and 13 digs. She was the only WOU student-athlete to reach double-figures in kills. Danielle English returned to the court and led the team with 22 digs while fellow senior Amy Herron paced the way with 38 assists.

The Wolves showed resiliency in capturing its only set of the match. After falling behind 13-6, WOU went on a 13-2 run to take the lead and close out the set 25-22. As a team, the Wolves registered just two errors in the set to go along with 15 kills. Walters was perfect in the set with five kills on 12 attempts for a .417 hitting percentage. Western Oregon also controlled the net, outblocking Seattle Pacific 4.5-0.

In the second set, SPU outhit WOU .241-.125 to even the match at one set apiece going into the break. Both teams had 13 kills but the Wolves committed three more hitting errors.

The break seemed to revitalize the Falcons who came out and hit .425 and .333 to win the two remaining sets. This included a 17-kill, zero-error performance in the team's 25-10 third set win.

"It was tough week for us with all the things that happened with our team," WOU head coach Brad Saindon explained. "I am not taking anything away from SPU, they are a good team, but we were discombobulated all week and we didn't play the way we wanted to tonight."

The Wolves will have another chance at home to right the ship as they take on Montana State Billings, Saturday, Oct. 24th, at 7:00 p.m.