By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Senior outside hitter Sarah Fincher (Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) from Willamette University has been named Northwest Conference Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week after leading the Bearcats to wins over Lewis & Clark College, 3-0, on Sept. 30 and Pacific Lutheran University, 3-2, on Oct. 2.

Fincher averaged 4.38 kills per set and hit .239 as Willamette swept past Lewis & Clark and edge out Pacific Lutheran. She also earned 1.25 digs and 1.00 blocks per set.

The wins improved Willamette's record to 10-4 on the season, including 6-0 in th NWC. Willamette leads the conference by two matches over Lewis & Clark and Whitworth University, both 4-2.

During last week's matches, Fincher led all players in kills each night, finishing with 16 kills against L&C and 19 kills against PLU. In the win over the Lutes, she earned 14 kills in the final three sets as WU rallied from a 2-0 deficit. She had seven kills in the 4th set and recorded four kills in a 16-14 win in the fifth set.

Fincher ranks first in the Northwest Conference with 186 kills and 3.65 kills per set. She his hitting .257 for the season, helping Willamette earn a .209 team hitting percentage.

Willamette plays again on Friday, Oct. 9 at Whitworth in Spokane, Washington. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will continue their road trip at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m.