By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Olivia Cadien (Jr., OH, Mesa, AZ/Chandler Preparatory Academy) registered 15 kills to lead all attackers as Willamette University took on George Fox University at Cone Field House on Saturday, Oct. 7, but the Bruins won the match 3-0. The Bruins achieved a .298 team hitting percentage and 41 kills, as they advanced their record to 10-5 overall, 6-2 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette pounded out 32 kills, but fell to 9-6 on the season, 4-4 in the NWC.
Cadien hit .211 for the Bearcats. She also earned nine digs and was credited with one block solo. Sydney Locke (So., MB, Federal Way, WA/Decatur HS) produced seven kills, while Shyla Sato (Sr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) supplied strong defense with 18 digs. Emma Porter (Grad., S, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) concluded the match with 20 assists.
Kassandra Staton paced the Bruins with 12 kills and no attacking errors on 25 total attacks, as she created a .480 hitting percentage. Addison Robertson added 10 kills and only one attacking error, while hitting .409 for GFU. Kennedy Kibby chipped in 26 assists and Piper Harrop amassed 18 digs. Staton recorded 12 digs.
There were five ties and four lead changes in the first 12 rallies of the opening set, as the score reached 6-6. The Bruins tallied the next two points to start an 11-2 run for a 17-8 advantage. Robertson and Olivia Jacobsen each had two kills during the run. Whitworth won the first set 25-12.
In the second set, the Bearcats trailed by the slim margin of 11-10 following a kill by Cadien. The Bruins expanded their lead with a 4-0 surge, including two kills from Jacobsen, to grab a 15-10 edge on the Bearcats. Willamette fought back and moved within 15-14 on a kill by Syd Bowen (So., OH/OPP, Tigard, OR/Wilsonville HS). Later, the GFU lead was a single point at 21-20 before a service ace by Riley Cedergreen (So., DS, Nampa, ID/Liberty Charter School) tied the score. The Bruins closed out the set with a 4-1 run.
George Fox zoomed out to a 13-2 lead in the third set and eventually held a 22-8 advantage. That's when the Bearcats began a fierce comeback. After Cadien earned a sideout with a kill, Porter served on the next eight points for the Bearcats, as Willamette pulled within 22-17. A kill by Robertson of GFU ended Willamette's string of points, but the Bearcats got as close as 23-19 on a kill by Katey Cramer (So., OH, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS/Cuesta College). A kill by Jacobsen and a combo block from Jacobsen and Staton ended the set at 25-19 for the Bruins.
Willamette is slated to take on Whitworth University on Friday, Oct. 15 at Cone Field House. Match time is set for 7 p.m. PDT.
