NEWBERG, Ore. — Hamline University competed in the Oregon Trail Classic over the weekend, facing off against Lewis & Clark and Pacific (OR). The Pipers recorded a split, losing to Lewis & Clark 3-1 and defeating Pacific (OR) 3-2.
In the match against Lewis & Clark, Hamline lost with set scores of 18-25, 25-20, 22-25, and 16-25. Hamline moved ahead 14-13 in the third set after trailing 12-9, but Lewis & Clark won the set 25-22 and took the fourth set decisively. Hamline finished with 34 kills, 12 service aces, and 64 digs while hitting .037 for the match.
In the opening set, Hamline matched Lewis & Clark with 10 kills, led by three from
Sophia Johnson, but the visitors held a 4-2 edge in service aces. A six-point Lewis & Clark stretch on Ruby Kuerschner's serve, including three straight aces, turned a 7-7 tie into a 13-7 lead, and they took the set 25-18.
The Pipers recovered to take the second set 25-20, utilizing six service aces and a 12-kill effort to maintain their lead.
Sophia Johnson contributed significantly with four kills and four aces, including four aces during a run that moved Hamline from 5-3 to 11-3.
In the third set, after overcoming a 12-9 deficit, Hamline went ahead 14-13, with
Claire Siems' ace tying the set at 12. However, Lewis & Clark finished with a 12-8 kill advantage, highlighted by seven kills from Kaitlyn Jensen, and scored the final six points to take the set 25-22.
Lewis & Clark dominated the fourth set with nine kills and three service aces, winning 25-16 as Hamline managed only five kills. The key separation came after a 13-13 tie when Lewis & Clark surged ahead 19-13, aided by five Hamline attack errors and a kill from Jensen.
In the next match against Pacific, Hamline emerged victorious with set scores of 25-23, 25-16, 16-25, 24-26, and 15-12. The Pipers won the first two sets, but Pacific rallied to take the next two. In a tense fifth set, Hamline pulled ahead after trailing 11-10, hitting .357 in the deciding set and finishing the match with 13 service aces, 79 digs, and 49 kills.
Hamline's first set win came at 25-23, closing with four straight points after Pacific (OR) led 23-21. The Pipers tallied 13 kills to Pacific's 10, with
Lydia Graham leading the charge with six kills and
Sophia Johnson adding three and an ace.
The second set saw Hamline dominate 25-16, recording six service aces compared to Pacific's one.
Ava Montanez's service run was crucial, contributing five straight points as the Pipers extended their lead from 14-7 to 19-7.
In the third set, Hamline initially overcame a 10-8 deficit to take a 13-11 lead, but Pacific responded by claiming 14 of the last 17 points to win the set 25-16, led by Emma Velcheck's nine kills.
The fourth set was a nail-biter, with Hamline leading 24-23 late, but Pacific scored the final three points to take it 26-24, despite Hamline's 11 kills in the set.
In the decisive fifth set, Hamline had six kills to Pacific's five and a 2-0 edge in blocks.
Cameryn Sand assisted all six Pipers kills, while
Ashley Norberg contributed a kill and teamed with Sand on two crucial blocks, leading to a 15-12 win for Hamline.
With this win, Hamline's record improved to 1-3 overall, while Pacific fell to 0-4.
Up next, the Pipers host North Central on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. at Hutton Arena.
