SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University volleyball player Jessie McGraw (Sr., OH, Gaston, OR/Yamhill Carlton HS/Corban College) has been selected for the 2009-10 All-Northwest Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team. One female athlete and one male athlete from each NWC member college or university was chosen for the award.
SALEM, ORE. -- Brigit Miller (Fr., Olympia, WA/Olympia HS), a setter on the Willamette University volleyball team, was named the Freshman of the Year by the Willamette Chemistry Department.
SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University volleyball team has announced its incoming freshmen for the upcoming 2010 season. Seven new players will join the Bearcat roster.
SALEM, ORE. -- Four former Willamette University volleyball players have the distinguished honor of being the winningest Bearcats in the history of Willamette Athletics. The four players, Dana Newsom, Emily Moore, Brandi Row and Sarah Pitcher, accumulated 136 wins from 1992-1995.
SALEM, ORE. -- After completing their most successful season since 2004, three members of the Willamette University volleyball team have been recognized by the Northwest Conference for their efforts. Senior Jessie McGraw (OH, Gaston, OR/Corban College) was chosen Second Team All-NWC. Molly Blankenship (Jr., OH, Spokane, WA/Spokane Falls CC) and Julie Stutzman (Sr., MH, Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) were named Honorable Mention All-NWC.
SALEM, ORE. -- Senior outside hitter Jessie McGraw (Gaston, OR/Yamhill-Carlton HS/Corban College) pounded out 14 kills, earned 15 digs and recorded three block assists in her final collegiate game, leading Willamette University to a 3-0 sweep of George Fox University on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Sparks Center. The Bearcats downed the Bruins, 25-18, 25-23, 25-18.
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University battled 15th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University throughout a five-set match at Cone Field House on Friday, Nov. 6. The Bearcats held a 2-1 lead after two sets, but the Lutes rallied to remain undefeated in Northwest Conference play with a 19-25, 25-14, 20-25, 25-23, 15-9 victory.
PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University received 15 kills apiece from outside hitters Molly Blankenship (Jr., Priest River, ID/Lamanna HS/Spokane Falls CC) and Jessie McGraw (Sr., Gaston, OR/Yamhill-Carlton HS/Corban College), as the Bearcats overcame a slow start to defeat Lewis & Clark College, 3-2, in Northwest Conference action on Friday, Oct. 30. Willamette won the match, 11-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-25, 15-11.
SALEM, ORE. -- Led by senior outside hitter Jessie McGraw (Gaston, OR/Yamhill-Carlton HS/Corban College), the Willamette University volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat visiting Linfield College, 3-2, in a Northwest Conference match at Cone Field House on Wednesday, Oct. 28. McGraw registered 18 kills, earned a .357 hitting percentage and registered 27 digs, as Willamette rallied for 25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-13 victory.
SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University volleyball team defeated the visiting Pacific University Boxers in straight sets, 25-13, 25-17, 25-16 on Saturday, Oct. 24. Willamette climbs to 8-12 overall and 5-7 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific drops to 7-13 overall and 2-10 in the NWC.
TACOMA, WASH. -- The Willamette University women's volleyball team was defeated by host University of Puget Sound, 3-0, on Friday, Oct. 23. Puget Sound won in straight sets, 25-21, 25-21, and 25-19. Willamette dropped to 7-12 on the season, including 4-7 in the Northwest Conference. Puget Sound, ranked #21 in NCAA Division III, moved to 14-6 overall and 8-4 in the NWC.
SALEM, ORE. -- Outside hitter Molly Blankenship (Priest River, ID/Lamanna HS/Spokane Falls CC) of Willamette University has been selected as the Northwest Conference Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week for her contributions to a pair of victories during the week ending Sunday, Oct. 18. Blankenship led the Bearcats to a 3-0 win over Whitworth University on Friday and a 3-1 triumph over Whitman on Saturday.
SALEM, ORE. -- Junior outside hitter Molly Blankenship (Priest River, ID/Lamanna HS/Spokane Falls CC) achieved a match-high 22 kills to lead Willamette University to a 3-1 victory over Whitman College in Northwest Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Bearcats trailed after the first set, but won the next three sets to take the match, 23-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20.
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University won in straight sets over visiting Whitworth University on Friday, Oct. 16. The Bearcats defeated the Pirates 25-20, 25-17, 27-25. The Bearcats moved to 6-11 overall and to 3-6 in the Northwest Conference. The visiting Pirates fell to 7-13 overall, 3-6 in the NWC.
TACOMA, WASH. -- Willamette University put up a strong battle against 17th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, Oct. 10, but the Lutes were able to fend off the Bearcats for a 25-22, 25-22, 25-17 victory in Northwest Conference play at Olson Auditorium. PLU upped its record to 12-5 overall, 8-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 5-11 overall, 2-6 in the NWC.
NEWBERG, ORE. -- Willamette University dropped the first two sets to George Fox on Friday evening, Oct. 9. The Bearcats fought their way back to even the match at 2-2 before the Bruins eventually won, 25-15, 28-26, 18-25, 22-25 and 15-11. The Bearcats moved to 5-10 overall, 2-5 in the Northwest Conference. The Bruins climbed to 12-3 overall, 5-2 in the NWC.
SALEM, ORE. -- Lewis & Clark College received 13 kills from Katherine Fiedler, who hit .417 during the match, as the Pioneers defeated Willamette University, 3-0, in hard-fought Northwest Conference action at Cone Field House on Saturday, Oct. 3. Julie Stutzman (Sr., MH, Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) provided Willamette with 11 kills while hitting .476 for the match.
MCMINNVILLE, ORE. -- The Willamette University volleyball team stormed into McMinnville on Wednesday evening, Sept. 30, and left with a victory. The Bearcats defeated the Wildcats in four sets, 25-19, 19-25, 25-17 and 25-22. WU moved to 5-8 overall and to 2-3 in the Northwest Conference. Linfield fell to 6-6 overall, 3-2 in the NWC.
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University volleyball was defeated by the visiting University of Puget Sound Loggers, 3-1 on Saturday, Sept. 26. Puget Sound claimed the first two sets 25-16 and 25-15. The Bearcats clawed their way back in the third set to notch a 25-21 victory. However, the Loggers won the fourth set 25-21 and took the match.
FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- The Willamette University volleyball team was defeated by Pacific University, 3-1, on Friday, Sept. 25. The Bearcats started out strong, winning the first set 25-18. Pacific battled back to win the next three sets, however, 25-11, 30-28 and 25-13.
SPOKANE, WASH. -- The Willamette University women's volleyball team used a strong start and a balanced team attack on its way to a 3-1 victory over Whitworth University on Saturday evening, Sept. 19. The Bearcats defeated the Pirates 25-10, 25-21, 18-25 and 25-15. Willamette moved to 4-6 overall and 1-1 in the Northwest Conference. The Pirates fell to 4-9 overall and 0-2 in the NWC.
WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- The Willamette University volleyball team had three players with at least ten kills against Whitman College. Still, the Bearcats fell to the Missionaries in four sets on Friday night, 22-25, 26-24, 20-25 and 28-30. WU moved to 3-6 overall and 0-1 in the Northwest Conference. Whitman climbed to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the NWC.
SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University volleyball team needed some late magic to pull off a come-from-behind victory over cross-town rival Corban College on Tuesday, Sept. 15. After dropping the first two sets, the Bearcats rallied to take the final three sets and the match.
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University rallied twice after falling behind by a set, but Warner Pacific College won the decisive fifth set to defeat the Bearcats, 3-2, at Cone Field House on Saturday, Sept. 12. The Knights edged out the win, 25-19, 15-25, 25-13, 20-25, 15-12, to improve to 5-3 on the season. Willamette dropped to 2-5.
OLYMPIA, WASH. -- The Willamette University volleyball team defeated Evergreen State College in straight sets on Monday, Sept. 7, 25-18, 25-12, 25-17. The Bearcats hit .227 for the match compared to Evergreen's -.056 hitting percentage.
FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Wartburg College won a four-set battle with Willamette University, 29-27, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, as both teams concluded the Boxer Kickoff Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 6 at Pacific University. The Knights improved to 2-2 on the season, while Willamette fell to 1-4.
FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Willamette University won the first two sets, 25-22 and 26-24, before dropping the last three to Central College (Iowa) during action at the Boxer Kickoff Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 6. The Dutch won the final three sets 25-12, 25-7 and 15-13.
FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Willamette University was defeated in straight sets by Linfield College, 25-15, 25-22, 25-23, on Saturday, Sept. 5, during the first day of the Boxer Kickoff Invitational hosted by Pacific University. The Bearcats rebounded in the final set to come within 24-23 before the match ended on an attacking error.
FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Jessie McGraw (OH, Gaston, OR/Corban College) led Willamette University with 16 kills, but it was not enough for the Bearcats to overcome Schreiner University (Texas) at the Boxer Kickoff Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Pacific University. WU fell to Schreiner in straight sets, 25-21, 25-23 and 25-19.
FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Willamette University's four volleyball matches this weekend (Sept. 5-6) at the Boxer Kickoff Invitational can be followed through Live Stats on the Pacific University website. Pacific, which is hosting the tournament, will provide the Live Stats feed.