McMinnville, Ore. | In an absolute thriller from start to finish, the Warner Pacific Women's Volleyball team just lost out on getting their first win of the season tonight in a five set loss to NCAA DIII Linfield University (18-25, 25-18, 29-27, 20-25, 9-15), dropping to 0-5 overall.

In what seemed like a possible repeat from this weekend's opening conference matches, the Knights came out looking flat in the first set, earning just 8 kills on 32 attacks with 4 errors.

However, Warner Pacific bounced back quickly in the second set, leveling the match at 1-1 with some beautiful defense and quick tip kills to keep the Wildcats in check. Senior setter Matalasi Laban commanded the set win for Warner Pacific, with 10 assists distributed to four different Knights.

Set three proved to contain the best team play that Warner Pacific fans have seen all season, with the Knights battling back from a 21-24 deficit to win 29-27, and taking a 2-1 set lead into the fourth set.

With their first win of the season in their sight, and a 19-14 lead in the fourth set, it looked like nothing could stop the Knights. Enter Wildcats offense, who what seemed like right on queue sounded off 9 straight points to make it a 19-23 score, and taking the set point just three plays later.

Their longest and most grueling game of the season carried into a fifth and final set, where the Knights offense finally hit a wall. With 9 of their final 15 points coming off kills, the Wildcats put this exhausting match to a close, with one final kill to ice this one at 3-2, and to cap off a game-high 60 total team kills.

Laban was the leader of the Knights offensive on the court tonight, tallying 29 assists, 7 kills, and 8 digs. Senior outside hitter Grace Buchanan had a double-double of 22 kills and 14 digs (leading the team in both statistical categories), while adding 2 service aces and accounting for 25.0 total points in the match. Freshman libero Sabah Mohammady contributed an additional 13 digs to tonight's defensive efforts.

On the home side of the court, junior outside hitter Raelynn Hammock had a double-double of her own with 15 kills and 16 digs, while libero Yssa Alcones matched her teammate with 16 digs as well.

There is something to be said about the fight and intensity the Warner Pacific Volleyball team played with tonight, as the team that had just come off a 0-2 opening weekend of conference play proceeded to take an NCAA DIII school to five sets in their own gymnasium. In the short history that the Linfield and Warner Pacific volleyball teams have shared the same court in McMinnville, Ore., the Knights had never come out of a road match with a single set win. Tonight, they had every Wildcat in that gymnasium nearly declawed, but just couldn't seal the deal.

The Warner Pacific University Knights return to action on Friday, September 10^th for their first home game of the season at 7pm at C.C, Perry Gym, where they will play host to conference opponent and nationally ranked #7 Corban University Warriors.