By Brandon Chinn, Athletics Communications Writer

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Michelle Lawrence pounded out a match-high 30 kills and Jamie Smith recorded 62 assists and 13 digs, as tournament host California Lutheran University defeated Willamette University, 3-1, in the final game of the Cal Lu Fornia Invitational.

California Lutheran, ranked #10 nationally in the NCAA Division III Poll released by the American Volleyball Coaches Assocation (AVCA), won 27-29, 29-27, 25-16, 25-22, and improved to 7-1 on the season. The Bearcats concluded their non-conference action at 4-4.

Both teams hit the ball well, with CLU earning a .271 team hitting percentage and Willamette converting at a .241 rate. The Regals amassed 72 kills and the Bearcats registered 53 kills. On defense, WU accumulated 11.0 team total blocks, compared with 6.0 total blocks for the Regals.

Two Willamette players finished with at least 10 kills. Sarah Fincher (Sr., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS) topped the team's charts with a season-high 18 kills. She committed just three attacking errors for a .341 hitting percentage. Alexa Dowdell (Jr., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) notched 12 kills and a .304 hitting percentage.

All 53 of Willamette's kills came via the assist. Senior Lindsey Compton (OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS) ended with a team-high 26 assists, just four more than the 22 produced by Tynan Gable (So., S, Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS). Kaylen Higa (Fr., DS/LIB, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) recorded 17 digs and has now contributed 10-plus digs in each of her past seven matches. Emma Liband (So., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) led the team with six blocks in addition to her six-kill performance.

In addition to Lawrence and Smith, California Lutheran also received strong performances form Amanda Roberts and Nicki Tetherow. Roberts recroded 10 kills and eight digs. Tetherow led all players with 21 digs.

The Bearcats return to action on Friday, Sept. 19 against Linfield College in what is their first home match of the 2015 season. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. (PDT).