COLLEGE PLACE, Wash. -- Walla Walla University defeated The Evergreen State College 3-0 in Cascade Collegiate Conference volleyball action on Friday, Oct. 17, as Sahara Browning registered 21 kills for the Wolves. Evergreen accumulated 10.0 team total blocks during the match, but the Wolves won 25-10, 25-22, 25-16.

Walla Walla improved its record to 9-7 on the season, including 7-6 in the CCC. Evergreen fell to 1-16 overall, 1-12 in the CCC.

For Evergreen, Sophia Scroggins (Jr., OPP/MB) led the Geoducks with seven kills and tied for the team lead with six digs. Jaci Yamada (Fr., DS) and Jayden Vaimaona (Jr., S) each added six digs. Zofia Formella (So., MB) provided five kills, a .308 hitting percentage, and a match-high four block assists. Scroggins was credited with three block assists. Sue Losey (Fr., S/RS) topped Evergreen with nine assists.

Browning's 21 kills represented one-half of Walla Walla's team total of 42. Browning finished with a .366 hitting percentage. Natalia Jimenez achieved eight kills for the Wolves. Yaimaris Garcia guided the WWU offense with 26 assists to go along with 10 digs. Paula Flores earned 15 digs. The Wolves ended the match with 4.0 team total blocks.

Walla Walla began the match by scoring the first eight points, including three on service aces by Flores, and ending with back-to-back kills by Browning. The Wolves also led 10-2 on another kill by Browning and later owned a 16-6 advantage. Evergreen tallied the next point, but WWU closed the set with a 9-4 run.

The second set was a battle that featured 10 ties between 2-2 and 14-14. Evergreen led 10-7 at one point following a combination block by Ally Ainoa (Fr., OH/DS) and Formella. Walla Walla recorded the next three points and later broke the 14-14 deadlock with a 5-0 run that started with a kill by Jimenez. The Geoducks rallied to within 19-17 on a kill from Scroggins. Evergreen trailed 23-19 before cutting the margin to 24-22 following a kill by Bright Brubaker (So., OPP). The Wolves won the set with a kill by Garcia. 

Evergreen held a 10-8 advantage in the third set after Brubaker registered a kill with an assist from Losey. The Wolves countered with a 7-0 offensive surge that ended with five consecutive kills by Browning. The Geoducks moved within 16-13 on a kill from Losey, but Walla Walla won the set 25-16.

Up next for the Geoducks is a match at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, on Saturday, Oct. 18. Match time is scheduled for 4 p.m. PDT.