By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University libero Shyla Sato (Sr., Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) accumulated 18 digs, including an impressive 11 digs in the first set, on Friday, Sept. 22 against Pacific Lutheran University, but the Lutes won the Northwest Conference match, 3-0. PLU outscored Willamette, 25-13, 25-20, 25-14. The Bearcats played well for significant stretches, especially in the second set, but PLU often prevented Willamette's great serves and strong attacks from hitting the court.
In addition, the Lutes hit .271 for the match. Pacific Lutheran improved to 5-7 on the season, 4-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 5-5 overall, 0-3 in the NWC.
Sato was exceptional in the first set, when her 11 digs represented just over half of Willamette's 20 digs. She added four digs in the second set and three digs in the third. Emma Porter (Grad., S, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) provided WU with 13 digs to go along with 18 assists. Olivia Cadien (Jr., OH, Mesa, AZ/Chandler Preparatory Academy) topped the Bearcats with 11 kills, while Katey Cramer (So., OH, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS/Cuesta College) finished with six kills and a match-high three service aces.
The Lutes were led by Baylee Johnson, who produced 10 kills. Claire Hindman and Haley Goto each tallied nine kills. Olivia Evaro was credited with 32 assists, and Halle Hetzler made a match-high 22 digs. Torie Takeuchi added 12 digs.
Willamette led 4-1 in the first set on the strength of one kill each from Cramer and Kaitlyn Westby (Jr., MH, Redmond, WA/Eastside Catholic HS). The Lutes rallied with a 6-1 run to take a 7-5 lead on a service ace by Sydney Aoki. A bit later, the teams were tied at 10-10 following a service ace by Cadien of Willamette. PLU scored the next eight points, including seven with Takeuchi serving, as the Lutes claimed an 18-10 advantage. Cramer ended the run with a kill for the Bearcats, but the Lutes closed out the set with a 7-2 surge.
In the second set, Pacific Lutheran took leads of 71 and 10-2, but the Bearcat fought back. WU cut the margin to 12-11 on a kill by Cadien, and the Bearcats pulled within 13-12 on a kill from Caroline Jameson (So., OH/OPP, Everett, WA/Everett HS). A 3-0 run by the Lutes, ending with a kill by Johnson, increased their lead to 16-12. Later, Willamette cut the lead to two points four times, including scores of 18-16 and 22-20 on kills from Cadien. PLU took the set, 25-20.
The Lutes and the Bearcats were tied at 2-2 early in the third set, before Pacific Lutheran surged out to a 14-8 lead. The Bearcats scored the next point, but couldn't get closer, as the Lutes built a 20-11 lead on their way to a 25-14 win.
Willamette will take on Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon, on Saturday, Sept. 23. Match time is set for 7 p.m. PDT.
