By Sara Elcano, Assistant Athletics Communications Director

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Willamette University defeated rival Linfield College, 3-0, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Friday, Oct. 15. The Bearcats won, 25-22, 25-14, 25-20, to improve to 7-11 overall, 3-6 in the NWC. Linfield dropped to 8-10 on the season, 6-4 in conference play.

Willamette used blocking down the stretch in the first set to rattle off three straight points and eventually win the set, 25-22. Carly Hargrave (Fr., MH, Happy Valley, OR/Clackamas HS) and Kirsten Brehmer (Fr., M, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen HS) teamed up for a pair of big blocks for the Bearcats.

The Bearcats took control of the second set with the score tied at 9-9. WU won nine of the next 10 points for a 18-10 lead. Consistent serving and attacking helped the Bearcats finish the set with a 24-14 victory.

Senior Molly Blankenship (OH, Spokane, WA/Spokane Falls CC) opened the third set with a serving ace. Willamette trailed twice early in the set and also fell behind 14-12. The Bearcats answered with a 4-0 run to overcame the deficit and never trailed again. WU won the set, 25-20, to finish the three-set sweep.

Willamette posted a .208 team hitting percentage. Madisyn Leenstra (So., M, Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) had a match-high 11 kills. Blankenship added nine kills and two aces. Freshmen Hargrave, Waltz and Brehmer each produced seven kills. Elizabeth Balding (Fr., LIB/DS, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) recorded a team-high 16 digs.

Hargrave hit .286 and registered one block solo and three block assists. Waltz added an ace, one block solo and four block assists. Leenstra and Brehmer each contributed three block assists. The Bearcats finished the match with 10.0 team blocks.

Setter Emily Compton (So., Portola, CA/Boise State Univ.) dished out 32 assists and did not make a ball handling error in the match. Compton added 11 digs.

Linfield was held to a .068 team hitting percentage. The Wildcats had three players, Shayli Coppock, Tara Hill and Rosa Gimson, with six kills apiece. Jordan Johnson provided the Wildcats with five kills. Samantha Lau finished the match with 29 digs to lead all players.

The Bearcats' next match is on Saturday, Oct. 16 against George Fox University in Cone Field House. Match time is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).