By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Three Willamette University attackers earned double-digit kills and the team hit .207 for the match, as the Bearcats defeated Linfield University, 3-2, at Cone Field House on Friday, Oct. 20. During the match, Willamette setter Emma Porter (Grad., S, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) provided 46 assists, moving her past the 3,000-assist mark for her career. Porter now has 3,011 assists with the Bearcats. Willamette held Linfield to a .125 hitting percentage.
The Bearcats won the hard-fought Northwest Conference contest 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 23-25, 15-10 and improved to 11-7 overall, 6-5 in the NWC. Linfield fell to 7-11, 3-8 in the NWC.
In addition to Porter reaching a milestone as a setter, the Bearcats also saw Shyla Sato (Sr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) attain a milestone as a server. Sato registered two service aces during the match, giving her exactly 100 aces in her career. She also was credited with 30 digs, as she increased her career total to 1,900.
Willamette's double-digit attackers were Olivia Cadien (Jr., OH, Mesa, AZ/Chandler Preparatory Academy) with a match-high 19 kills, Sydney Locke (So., MB, Federal Way, WA/Decatur HS) with 14 kills, and Katey Cramer (So., OH, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS/Cuesta College) with 14 kills. In addition, Porter and Kaitlyn Westby (Jr., MB, Redmond, WA/Eastside Catholic HS) each added five kills with just one attacking error.
Katelin Sindular of Linfield paced the Wildcats with 11 kills, while Lexi Correa earned nine kills. Araeya Watanabe and Nora Myre each finished with eight kills. Linfield setter Claire Johnson accumulated 35 assists and Paige Richards recorded 28 digs.
Willamette led for most of the fifth and decisive set. The Wildcats led 1-0, but the Bearcats tallied the next two points on a kill by Cadien and Sato's second service ace of the night. Lexi Correa scored on a kill for Linfield to tie the set at 2-2.
Cadien regained the lead for Willamette at 3-2 by pounding a kill and the Bearcats stayed in front the rest of the way. WU held a 7-3 advantage after a solo block by Katey Cramer on an attack from Linfield's Ryli Klahiki. The score did get close after the Wildcats put together a 3-0 run to pull within 7-6 on a service ace by Paige Pa'aluhi.
WU scored next on a kill from Cramer, but Linfield moved within 8-7 on the next point. The Bearcats responded by taking charge with a 4-0 surge on four kills by Cramer to take a 12-7 edge. Linfield moved as close as 13-10 on a kill by Johnson. Willamette won the next two points on a kill by Locke and an attacking error by the Wildcats to end the match.
The Bearcats never trailed in the first set on their way to a 25-23 win. Willamette owned a 10-7 lead after a kill by Cadien, and WU was in front 15-11 on another kill by Cadien. A bit later, WU held an 18-14 margin, but Linfield cut the lead to 21-19. Eventually, LU moved within 24-23 on a kill by Sindular. Porter provided the set-winning point with a kill.
Linfield tied the match at one win apiece with a 25-22 victory in the second set. The Wildcats used a 5-0 run to grab a 7-3 lead and later claimed a 14-12 edge on a kill by Correa. Willamette tied the score at 17-17 and 18-18, but Linfield scored the next three points to start a 7-4 run. WU got as close as 23-22 on a combo block by Porter and Locke, before one kill each by Myre and Pa'aluhi gave Linfield the set.
In the third set, Willamette surged away late for a 25-16 victory. The Wildcats were in front 11-8 on a kill by Sindular, but the Bearcats quickly added kills from Westby and Cadien to start a 10-2 run for an 18-13 advantage. Later, WU gained a 22-14 margin on a kill by Cramer.
The fourth set opened with three ties, but Linfield went on a 5-0 surge for an 8-3 lead. The Wildcats couldn't pull away and Willamette kept battling back, eventually pulling within 21-20 on an attacking error by LU. The Bearcats cut the margin to one point three more times, including 24-23 on a kill by Cramer. Linfield scored next to force a fifth set.
Willamette will be in action again on Saturday, Oct. 21 when the Bearcats will travel to Tacoma, Washington, to take on the NWC leaders from Pacific Lutheran University. Match time is scheduled for 6 p.m. PDT. The Lutes enter the match with a 12-7 record, including 11-0 in the NWC.
