By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
BELTON, Texas -- The Willamette University Bearcats hit .228 and recorded an impressive 17.5 team total blocks in a 3-0 victory over Hardin-Simmons University on Saturday, Sept. 5 at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Volleyball Invitational. Willamette won 25-22, 25-20, 29-27 and upped its record to 2-1. Hardin-Simmons dropped to 1-3.
Sarah Fincher (Sr., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) led the Bearcats with 15 kills and provided three block assists. She hit .361 during the match. Alexa Dowdell (Jr., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) added nine kills with just one error on 20 attacks. She registered a .400 hitting percentage.
Willamette's successful defensive effort at the net was led by Emma Liband (So., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sanpoint HS), who rejected four attacks on her own and combined with teammates on five additional blocks. Lindsey Compton (Sr., OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford) contributed four block solos and one block assist for five total blocks. Dowdell also finished with five total blocks on one block solo and four block assists.
As a team, the Bearcats recorded nine block solos and 17 block assists. The number of block assists are divided in half --- since most blocks involve two players --- when determining team total blocks.
Allison Kuster was the top hitter for Hardin-Simmons, as she pounded out 16 kills. She also concluded the match with 14 digs. Corrie Hall earned 10 kills for HSU, while Lauren Wish registered a match-high 26 digs. Morgan Prince finished with 27 assists.
Compton and Tynan Gable (So., S, Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS) shared setting duties for the Bearcats. Compton accumulated 17 assists to go along with a team-high 20 digs. Gable achieved 11 assists and nine digs. Kaylen Higa (Fr., DS/LIB, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) supplied 13 digs.
Willamette limited Hardin-Simmons to a .084 team hitting percentage. The Cowgirls recorded 37 kills, but committed 26 attacking errors on 131 total attacks. Willamette amassed 33 kills and had only 10 errors on 101 attacks.
The Bearcats were set to conclude the UMHB Volleyball Invitational later on Saturday against host Mary Hardin-Baylor. Match time was scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CDT/2:30 p.m. PDT.
