By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
ATLANTA, Ga. - Willamette University downed LaGrange College (Ga.), 3-2, in a first-round match at the Emory Classic, on Friday, Sept. 3. Later in the day, the Bearcats fell to host Emory University, 3-0. Emory is ranked #4 in the nation in the NCAA Division III Preseason Poll released by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Willamette outlasted LaGrange, 25-21, 23-25, 25-12, 25-20. Emory defeated Willamette, 25-22, 25-18, 25-11.
Willamette is 1-2 on the season, 1-1 in the Emory Classic. LaGrange fell to 0-1 after losing to the Bearcats. Emory improved to 3-0 on the season.
The Bearcats will conclude the Emory Classic with two matches on Saturday, Sept. 4. Willamette will take on Covenant College (Ga.) at 10 a.m. EDT/7 a.m. PDT. The Bearcats will battle against Brevard College (N.C.) at 12:30 p.m. EDT/9:30 a.m. PDT.
In the win over LaGrange, senior outside hitter Natalie Klotz (Sr., OH, Bonner Springs, KS/Bonner Springs HS) led all players with 17 kills. She achieved a .268 hitting percentage. Dani Queja (Jr., OH, Ewa Beach, HI/Maryknoll School) was credited with 10 kills and 12 digs. Ana James (Fy., OPP, Imperial Beach, CA/Mar Vista HS) and Lexi Martin (Jr., MH, Bellevue, WA/Interlake HS) each added seven kills.
Also for WU in the opener, Emma Porter (So., S, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) supplied the Bearcats with 34 assists and 16 digs. Shyla Sato (So., LIB, Honolulu, HI/MId-Pacific Institute) finished with a match-high 19 digs.
Karson Troth topped LaGrange with nine kills and tied for the team lead with 15 digs. Bre Dufault also registered 15 digs for the Panthers. Jharia Harris tacked on eight kills and 12 digs. Kirsten Boyd provided 20 assists.
In the first set, the Bearcats led 20-17 after 37 rallies. LaGrange tallied the next point on a kill by Journey Oden, but Willamette countered by winning the next three points to start a 5-3 run to win the set. The run included one kill each by Porter, Queja, and Klotz.
The second set featured 11 ties and five lead changes. Willamette held a solid 11-5 lead early in the set, but the Panthers rallied to tie the game at 11-11. The Bearcats grabbed a 14-12 edge, before LaGrange used a 4-1 run for a 16-15 lead. The team continued to battle and were eventually tied at 23-23. LaGrange earned the next three points for a 25-23 win.
Willamette led throughout the third set as the Bearcats built leads of 3-0, 5-1, and 11-3 on their way to a 25-12 triumph. Klotz recorded six kills during the set.
The Bearcats closed out the match by rallying for a 25-20 win during the fourth set. WU trailed 14-9 and 16-12 before going on a 9-0 run for a 21-16 advantage. The run included a kill from James for a 16-16 tie, followed by an attacking error by the Panthers. Queja added a kill, Sato provided back-to-back service aces, and James completed the run with a solo block. LaGrange got as close as 21-19 on a kill by Kylie Neal, but WU ended the match with a 4-1 run.
Against Emory, Klotz reached double figures for the Bearcats with 12 kills. Porter accumulated 19 assists and 121 digs. Sato registered 16 digs. Emory was led by Tara Martin with 10 kills, while Madison Cail and Alan Dawson provided seven kills apiece. Deborah Hong amassed 19 digs, while Cassie Srb achieved 30 assists. The Eagles earned 9.0 team total blocks with 16 block assists and one block solo.
Emory won the match in straight sets, but there were 14 ties and 10 lead changes in the first set and the teams fought through eight ties and three lead changes in the second set. The opening set was tied as late as 22-22 following a service error by Emory. The Eagles recovered to win the next three points on a kill by Jessica Majka, a kill from Srb, and an attacking error by Willamette.
Willamette owned a 12-11 margin in the second set after a kill by Klotz. The Eagles tallied four consecutive points for a 15-12 lead. WU was within 19-17 a bit later following a service ace by Sato. Emory used a 6-1 run to win the set, 25-18. The Eagles never trailed in the third set.