DES MOINES, WA – In a grueling five-set battle on the road, the Lower Columbia College Red Devils showed tremendous resilience but ultimately fell to the Highline Thunderbirds 3-2 in a hard-fought conference match on Friday night. The set scores were 14-25, 25-21, 28-26, 18-25, 7-15.

After a slow start in the opening set, the Red Devils roared back to life, showcasing their grit and determination. They captured a tight second set 25-21 and followed it with a dramatic 28-26 victory in the third set to take a 2-1 lead in the match. However, the Thunderbirds managed to regroup, forcing a decisive fifth set where they secured the win.

Kendall Humphrey led the offensive charge for the Red Devils, posting a double-double with a team-high 15 kills and 16 digs. Setter Karissa Otterstetter was crucial in directing the offense, finishing with 32 assists, 12 digs, and 6 kills on an efficient .263 hitting percentage.

Claire Neuman was a force from the service line, leading all players with 4 aces to go along with 7 kills and 13 digs. Chesney Schultz and Irene Martinez added 8 and 7 kills, respectively.

The defensive effort was relentless, with five Red Devils recording double-digit digs. Libero Kamryn Sande anchored the back row with a team-high 19 digs. She was joined by Humphrey (16), Neuman (13), Otterstetter (12), and Lillian Halberg (11) in a scrappy team performance that amassed 74 total digs.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Red Devils fought valiantly through a marathon match on the road and will look to bounce back in their next contest.

Devils are back on the home court this Wednesday, Oct. 1, vs the Green River Gators at 6:00 pm.