Bellevue, WA — The Lower Columbia College volleyball team battled hard but couldn't overcome the undefeated Bellevue Bulldogs on the road Monday night, falling in four sets (29-27, 25-23, 25-18, 25-15).

The Red Devils showed grit early, snatching a thrilling opening set victory. After a back-and-forth affair, a late surge, highlighted by an ace from Kamryn Sande and a key kill from Claire Neuman, propelled Lower Columbia to a 29-27 win.

Lower Columbia's momentum continued in the second set, as they jumped out to a 15-12 lead, forcing a Bellevue timeout. Kendall Humphrey and Neuman were a formidable duo, leading the attack with five and six kills, respectively, in the first two sets. However, the Bulldogs clawed their way back, capitalizing on a series of Red Devils attacking errors to take the set 25-23.

Bellevue's defense tightened up in the final two sets, proving difficult for the Red Devils to break through. While Lower Columbia's hitting percentage was a respectable .206 in the first set, it steadily dropped to .048 in the second and hit a low of -.156 in the final set. The Bulldogs' strong defensive front, which included seven total blocks, held the Red Devils to just 10 kills in the final two sets combined.

Despite the loss, the Red Devils showcased several standout performances. Claire Neuman and Kendall Humphrey each had an impressive night with 16 points and 16 points, respectively, with Neuman adding 14 kills and Humphrey contributing 12. Libero Lillian Halberg was a defensive powerhouse, tallying a team-high 21 digs.

With the defeat, the Red Devils' record now stands at 3-3 as they prepare to face Yakima Valley College in the upcoming NWAC Crossover at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, OR.