Women's Volleyball

2012-13 Volleyball News

  • Willamette Announces Volleyball Recruiting Class for 2013 Season
    July 12, 2013
    SALEM, ORE. -- After ending last season on a positive note having won six of its last 10 matches, the Willamette University volleyball team is looking to carry its momentum into the start of the 2013 season.
  • Leenstra Named to USA Division III Women's Volleyball Team for Brazil Tour
    June 04, 2013
    SALEM, ORE. -- After leading the Bearcats with 284 kills, 829 total attacks and 3.30 kills per set during her breakout senior season in 2012, recent Willamette University graduate Madisyn Leenstra (Sr., Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) has been selected as a member of the 2013 USA Division III Women's Volleyball Team for its upcoming tour in Brazil.
  • Leenstra Garners All-West Region Honor
    November 16, 2012
    SALEM, ORE -- The awards keep coming for Willamette University volleyball player Madisyn Leenstra (Sr., OH/MH, Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS). One week after becoming the first Bearcat in eight years to be named First Team All-Northwest Conference, Leenstra was named an Honorable Mention selection on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-West Region Team.
  • Leenstra Named First Team All-Northwest Conference in Volleyball
    November 08, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University athletes Madisyn Leenstra (Sr., OH/MH, Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) and Shannon Waltz (Jr., MH, Honolulu, HI/La Pietra HS) have been named to the 2012 All-Northwest Conference Volleyball Team in voting by the league's head coaches. Leenstra received First Team All-NWC honors, while Waltz was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC for the second consecutive season.
  • Willamette Upends George Fox, 3-1, as Reed Earns 17 Kills and 22 Digs
    November 03, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University seniors Danica Reed (Sr., OH, Arvada, CO/Ralston Valley HS) and Madisyn Leenstra (Sr., OH/MH, Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) led the way on Senior Night at Cone Field House on Saturday, Nov. 3, as the hitters combined for 30 of Willamette's 49 kills. The senior leadership helped send Willamette past George Fox University, 3-1.
  • Bearcats Sweep Pioneers, 25-22, 25-17, 25-14
    November 02, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University received five or more kills from five players, and the Bearcats achieved a .333 team hitting percentage, on their way to a 3-0 sweep of visiting Lewis & Clark College in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Friday, Oct. 2. Willamette finished with 40 kills during the match at Cone Field House.
  • Willamette Rallies to Force a Fifth Set before Falling to #15 Pacific Lutheran
    October 27, 2012
    TACOMA, WASH. -- Willamette University rallied from a 2-0 deficit against #15-ranked Pacific Lutheran University to tie the match, but the Lutes own the decisive fifth set to defeat the Bearcats, 3-2, on Saturday, Oct. 27. With the win, Pacific Lutheran upped its record to 19-4 overall, 13-1 in the NWC, while clinching at least a tie for the NWC title. Willamette fell to 7-14 overall, 5-9 in the NWC.
  • Puget Sound Defeats Bearcats in Three Close Sets, 26-24, 25-23, 25-23
    October 26, 2012
    TACOMA, WASH. -- Willamette University, which upset the University of Puget Sound, 3-2, in Salem, Ore., on Sept. 28, battled the Loggers once again on Friday, Oct. 26. The Bearcats almost defeated the nationally ranked Loggers in each set, but 10 serving errors by Willamette and six service aces for Puget Sound led to a 26-24, 25-23, 25-23 win for UPS. Puget Sound improved to 16-5 overall, 10-3 in the Northwest Conference. The Loggers are ranked #14 in this week's NCAA Division III Poll released by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Willamette fell to 7-13 overall, 5-8 in the NWC.
  • Willamette Hits .292 as Bearcats Down Whitworth, 3-1
    October 20, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University hit .292 and achieved 47 kills, as the Bearcats defeated visiting Whitworth University, 3-1, on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Cone Field House. The Bearcats prevailed, 25-15, 25-11, 21-25, 25-14. Willamette improved to 7-12 on the season, 5-7 in the Northwest Conference. Whitworth dropped to 7-12 overall, including 3-9 in the NWC. Madisyn Leenstra (Sr., OH/MH, Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) led the Bearcats with 12 kills, only one attacking error and a .344 hitting percentage. She also earned 13 digs and five block assists. Carly Hargrave (Jr., MH, Happy Valley, OR/Clackamas HS) supplied 10 kills to go with eight block assists, while Elisa Ahern (So., OPP, Lake Forest Park, Wash./Shorecrest HS) added nine kills, five digs, and four block assists.
  • Whitman Defeats Bearcats in Three Sets in NWC Action
    October 19, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- Whitman College held off Willamette University in three consecutive sets to defeat the Bearcats, 3-0, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match at Cone Field House on Friday, Oct. 19. The Missionaries won 25-18, 25-21, 25-20.
  • Leenstra is Named NWC Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week
    October 17, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- Madisyn Leenstra (Sr., OH/MH, Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) of Willamette University has been chosen Northwest Conference Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week for her efforts during the week ending Sunday, Oct. 14. It is the second time this season that Leenstra has been selected for Student-Athlete of the Week honors. She previously earned the award for the week ending Sept. 30.
  • Willamette Rolls Through Pacific in Straight Sets, 25-15, 25-17, 25-14
    October 13, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University recorded 37 kills and had just five attacking errors, as the Bearcats played three solid sets in a 3-0 road win over Pacific University on Saturday, Oct. 13. The Bearcats hit .381 for the match, while limiting Pacific to a -.036 hitting percentage.
  • Willamette Rallies in Fifth Set to Defeat Linfield, 3-2, at Cone Field House
    October 12, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University utilized an evenly balanced attack as well as a .248 hitting percentage to defeat Linfield College 3-2, on Friday, Oct. 12 at Cone Field house. The two teams won alternating sets before Willamette prevailed, 25-8, 18-25, 25-20, 24-26, 15-11. 
  • Bearcats Fall to George Fox, 3-1, as Burk Earns 20 Kill for the Bruins
    October 06, 2012
    NEWBERG, ORE. -- George Fox University received 20 kills, a .421 hitting percentage and seven total blocks from Tiffany Burk, as the Bruins defeated Willamette University, 3-1, at the Wheeler Sports Center on Saturday, Oct. 6. GFU lost the first set before prevailing, 17-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-20.
  • Leenstra Pounds Out 28 Kills, Earns 20 Digs, as Bearcats Down L&C, 3-1
    October 05, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- Madisyn Leenstra (Sr., OH/MH, Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) led Willamette University with a career-high 28 kills and a career-high 20 digs, as the Bearcats defeated Lewis & Clark College, 3-1, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Friday, Oct. 5. The Bearcats lost the first set, but rallied for a 23-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-23 win.
  • Leenstra Receives NWC Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week Recognition
    October 02, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior Madisyn Leenstra (OH/MH, Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) has been named Northwest Conference Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week for her efforts in two matches for the Bearcats during the week ending Sept. 30. 
  • Pacific Lutheran, Ranked #18, Takes Two Close Sets in 3-0 Win over Willamette
    September 29, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- Pacific Lutheran University, ranked #18 in this week's NCAA Division III Poll released by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), defeated Willamette University in three sets on Saturday, Sept. 29, but the Lutes won very close battles in the first and third sets. PLU won the match, 26-24, 25-17, 27-25.
  • Willamette Rallies with Three Sets in a Row, Downs #10 Puget Sound, 3-2
    September 28, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- After falling behind by two sets against #10-ranked University of Puget Sound, the Willamette University volleyball team played with increased intensity and consistency in the final three sets, as the Bearcats rallied past the Loggers, 3-2, at Cone Field House on Friday, Sept. 28. The Northwest Conference victory improved WU to 3-9 overall, 1-4 in the NWC.
  • Bearcats Fall in Four Sets to Whitworth
    September 22, 2012
    SPOKANE, WASH. -- The Willamette University women's volleyball team kept Saturday night's match against Northwest Conference foe Whitworth University close throughout, but the Bearcats were unable to prevail, as the Pirates won in four sets, 25-19, 25-21, 9-25, 25-23.
  • Whitman Defeats Willamette, 3-0
    September 21, 2012
    WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Whitman College edged past Willamette University 27-25 in the first set and the Missionaries went on to defeat the Bearcats in three sets, during a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Friday, Sept. 21. After claiming the first set by the smallest of margins, Whitman won the second set 25-20 and took the third set 25-18.
  • Bearcats Fall to Boxers in Five Sets
    September 15, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University volleyball team won two of the first three sets against Northwest Conference rival Pacific University on Saturday, Sept. 15, but the Boxers won the final two sets for a 3-2 win over the Bearcats. Pacific claimed the victory, 23-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11.
  • Bearcats Force Fifth Set, but Linfield Wins Match, 3-2
    September 14, 2012
    McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Willamette University forced a fifth set with a powerful 25-12 win the fourth set, but Linfield College prevailed in the decisive set, as the Wildcats defeated the Bearcats, 3-2, in the Northwest Conference opener for both teams on Friday, Sept. 14. Linfield advanced its record to 6-2 overall, 1-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 2-6 on the season, 0-1 in the NWC.
  • Western Oregon Sweeps Willamette in Volleyball, 3-0
    September 12, 2012
    MONMOUTH, ORE. -- Western Oregon University achieved 18 kills in the first set to gain momentum, and the Wolves went on to defeat Willamette University, 3-0, in a non-conference volleyball match on Wednesday, Sept. 12. The Wolves downed the Bearcats, 25-12, 25-18, 27-25.
  • Willamette Falls to Dominican in Five Sets during Star Classic Championship
    September 08, 2012
    RIVER FOREST, ILL. -- Willamette University fell to Dominican University in a five-set thriller, 3-2, in the championship match of the 2012 Star Classic on Saturday, Sept. 8. It was the second five-set win for the Stars over the Bearcats in as many days. Dominican also edged out the Bearcats, 3-2, in a preliminary match on Friday.
  • Bearcats End First Day of Star Classic with Win Over Lakeland
    September 07, 2012
    RIVER FOREST, ILL. -- After losing a match in five sets to Dominican University (Ill.) earlier in the afternoon, Willamette University bounced back to defeat Lakeland College (Wis.) at the 2012 Star Classic in River Forest, Ill., on Friday, Sept. 8. Willamette defeated Lakeland in three sets, 25-13, 25-13, 25-23.
  • Northwest Christian Defeats Willamette Volleyball in Four Sets
    September 04, 2012
    EUGENE, ORE. -- Northwest Christian earned 49 kills and 11 service aces, as the Beacons defeated Willamette University, 3-1, in a non-conference volleyball match at the Morse Event Center on Tuesday, Sept. 4. NCU, which competes in the NAIA, won the match, 25-19, 22-25, 25-23, 25-15.
  • #23-Ranked Occidental Defeats Bearcats, 26-24, 25-21, 25-20
    September 02, 2012
    McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Occidental College, ranked #23 in the NCAA Division III Preseason Poll, received a solid battle from Willamette University in the Bearcats' season opener, but the Tigers prevailed, 26-24, 25-21, 25-20, on Sunday, Sept. 2 at Linfield College. The neutral-site win improved Occidental to 3-0 on the season, while Willamette fell to 0-1.
  • Bearcats are Listed Eighth in NWC Volleyball Preseason Poll
    August 27, 2012
    SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University volleyball team has been picked to finish in eighth place the Northwest Conference according to the 2012 NWC Volleyball Preseason Poll. All nine NWC head coaches voted in the poll, which resulted in Pacific Lutheran University being chosen as the favorite to win the NWC title.