TACOMA, Washington – The Puget Sound volleyball team dismissed Whitman in three sets Friday afternoon, but the Loggers lost to St. Thomas (Tex.) in four sets during the first day of the Puget Sound Premiere in Memorial Fieldhouse.
 
Puget Sound 3, Whitman 0
Jordan Holman posted a double-double, and Katherine Carley added 10 kills, as the Loggers cruised past Whitman in three sets (25-13, 25-22, 25-21).
 
Holman came away with a game-high 11 kills and 12 digs. Chloe Akiona-Bannan matched Holman's digs count in the defensive effort.
 
Holman also finished the match with six service aces – five of which came in the second set. Following a kill from Jenna Williams, Holman stepped in to serve with a 6-3 lead. She immediately tallied consecutive aces, and the final point of Puget Sound's 7-0 run was a Holman ace.
 
Puget Sound hit .221 as a team, nearly matching its season-opening mark of .227 in the win against Evergreen State (Sept. 1).
 
 
Puget Sound 1, St. Thomas 3
The Loggers fell into an early hole down by two sets, but the start of the third set offered promise that the match against the Celts would go the distance. St. Thomas won the match in four sets (25-20, 25-18, 19-25, 26-24).
 
The Loggers raced out to a 9-0 lead in the third set, with Samantha Johnson serving the Loggers to eight of those points. Puget Sound kept its distance when a kill from Katelyn Chekian gave the Loggers a 21-13 edge. A service error by the Celts ended the third set and kept Puget Sound alive.
 
The Loggers maintained momentum early in the fourth set – and an ace by Sarah Blumenfeld gave Puget Sound a 13-8 lead. However, the Celts put together a 6-1 run to take a 17-15 lead.
 
The Loggers briefly reclaimed a couple of one-point leads. An ace from Abby McLeran put the Loggers ahead, 21-20. A few points later, a kill by Logan Will gave the Loggers a 24-23 advantage. Still, St. Thomas managed close out the match with a 3-0 run.
 
Puget Sound was led by Samantha Johnson's 20 kills and Jenna Miller's 18 assists. Avery Allemann and Chekian each finished with 12 kills.
 
The Loggers will look to bounce back and end the Puget Sound Premier tournament on a high note against Southwestern (Tex.) at 11:30 a.m. and Pacific Lutheran at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4.