By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
TACOMA, Wash. -- Led by three Bearcats with double-digit kills, Willamette University downed University of Puget Sound, 3-1, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Saturday, Oct. 24. Sarah Fincher (Sr., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) led the way with 19 kills, while Lindsey Compton (Sr., OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford) and Alexa Dowdell (Jr., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) finished with 14 kills apiece.
Willamette improved its record to 13-7 on the season, including 9-3 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats hold second place in the NWC standings and are just one match behind first place Whitworth University (9-2). Willamette is one match in front of Pacific Lutheran University (8-4).
Emily Convery and Shawna Smith each recorded nine kills for the Loggers, who fell to 8-12 overall, 5-7 in the NWC. Kristen Lane finished with 17 digs for the Loggers, while Smith tallied up 15 digs.
The Bearcats won the match, 25-13, 25-16, 25-27, 25-21, for their second road win in as many nights. Willamette rallied from a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 win at Pacific University on Friday. With Saturday's victory, WU clinched its first winning season since going 19-6 in 2004.
Dowdell topped the Bearcats with a .407 hitting percentage. Compton achieved 18 digs, while Fincher suppleid nine digs.
Several other WU players made signficant contributions. Tynan Gable (So., S, Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS) earned a career-high 50 assists to go with 11 digs. Kaylen Higa (Fr., LIB/DS, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) provided 25 digs. Macy Hayashi (Sr., OH, Hilo, HI/Waiakea HS) attained three service aces, helping WU register nine aces overall.
Willamette rolled through the first two sets with a combined 28 kills and a .270 hitting percentage, but Puget Sound rallied from a 24-20 deficit in the third set to prevent a sweep.
In the fourth set, the Bearcats rebounded by pounding out 16 kills and limiting the Loggers to 10 kills. Willamette finished with 56 kills. Puget Sound registered 39 kills.
The Bearcats claimed a 5-0 lead to start the match and later owned a 14-5 advantage. The Bearcats won the first set, 25-13.
Puget Sound held a 1-0 margin in the second set and the score was tied three times in the first eight rallies. Willamette then rolled off three straight points, including an ace by Gable, for a 7-4 advantage. The Loggers pulled within 9-8, but the Bearcats scored the next eight points for a 17-8 lead. WU prevailed, 25-16, with Fincher recording seven kills during the set.
Willamette was in front for much of the third set, including leads of 10-5 and 13-8. The Loggers cut the margin to 14-13 on a block by Smith and Heather Sangster. The next three points went to the Bearcats, who eventually owned a 24-20 advantage.
UPS scored five straight points to move into a 25-24 lead. Taylor Lum (Jr., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS) of WU tied the score with a kill, but Smith and Convery each added a kill of their own, as the Loggers won the set, 27-25.
The fourth set featured five ties and two lead changes, but Willamette took control with a 6-0 run to break an 11-11 tie. The run began with a service ace by Dowdell and also included two kills from Fincher. UPS mounted a final rally, cutting the deficit from 24-17 to 24-21, but a kill by Dowdell ended the match.
WU hit .181 for the match and recorded 89 digs. UPS finished with a .097 hitting percentage. The Loggers recorded 70 digs and amassed 12.0 team total blocks. The Bearcats earned 4.0 total blocks.
Next on the schedule for Willamette is a road match at Lewis & Clark College on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The action is slated to start at 7 p.m. (PDT) in Portland, Oregon.
