By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- The Willamette University defense held Linfield University to a .062 hitting percentage as the Bearcats swept a Northwest Conference volleyball match from the Wildcats, 3-0, on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Ted Wilson Gymnasium. Olivia Cadien (Jr., OH, Mesa, AZ/Chandler Preparatory Academy) led Willamette's offense with 15 kills. It was the eighth time in 11 matches this season that she has pounded down 10 or more kills.

Willamette moved back above the .500 mark at 6-5 overall. The Bearcats are 1-3 in the NWC. Linfield fell to 5-6 on the season, 1-3 in the NWC.

Cadien's offensive efforts were supplemented with eight kills by Katey Cramer (So., OH, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS/Cuesta College) and six kills by Kaitlyn Westby (Jr., MB, Redmond, WA/Eastside Catholic HS). Westby and Cramer each had just two attacking errors, as Westby hit .400 and Cramer produced a .300 hitting percentage. Cadien hit .243 and topped all players with 37 total attacks.

Emma Porter (Grad., S, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) accumulated 29 assists during the match. She also earned 10 digs, two service aces, and two block assists. Cadien contributed seven digs and three service aces. Shyla Sato (Sr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) recorded 20 digs for the Bearcats. Willamette attained 10 team service aces, compared to seven aces for the Loggers.

Ryli Kalahiki topped Linfield with six kills, while Araeya Watanabe and Nora Myre each supplied five kills. Claire Johnson finished with 21 assists. Myre made 16 digs for the Wildcats, while Paige Richards achieved 12 digs.

The Bearcats began the match with a 13-4 run that included five kills. Willamette continued its surge to take a 17-9 lead on a kill by Cadien. Linfield gradually rallied and pulled within 20-14 on a kill by Watanabe. The Wildcats eventually moved within four points at 24-20, but WU took the next point to win the set.

In the second set, Cadien provided six kills. Willamette built a 15-5 lead over the first 20 rallies, and also gained margins of 19-9 and 23-13. WU won the set, 25-15.

Linfield held a 3-0 margin in the third set, but the Bearcats went on a 7-2 run to grab a slim 7-5 advantage. Later, the teams were tied at 14-14 before WU went on a 3-0 run for a 17-14 advantage. The short run included a kill from Cramer, an attacking error by Linfield, along with another kill by Cramer. The teams were tied at 23-23 and 24-24, but WU won the set and the match with an attack error by the Wildcats and a kill by Caroline Jameson (So., OH/OPP, Everett, WA/Everett HS).

Willamette gained a 35-26 margin in kills, a 63-48 edge in digs, and a 5.0 to 3.0 lead in team total blocks. WU registered 10 or more kills in all three sets.

Up next for the Bearcats is a Northwest Conference match on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Cone Field House against Lewis & Clark College. Match time is set for 7 p.m. PDT.