By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- After picking up a win and a loss to start Northwest Conference play last week, the Willamette University volleyball team is set to host two NWC games this weekend at Cone Field House. The Bearcats will take on University of Puget Sound on Friday, Sept. 26 and will battle George Fox University on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Willamette enters the weekend at 6-5 overall and 1-1 in the NWC. Puget Sound is 2-9 overall and 1-1 in the NWC, while George Fox is 2-10 on the season, 1-1 in the NWC. Both matches will start at 7 p.m. (PDT).

The Bearcats are led by the combination of Sarah Fincher (Jr., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) and Alexa Dowdell (So., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS). Fincher has achieved 129 kills while averaging 3.39 kills per set. She owns a .215 hitting percentage. Dowdell has contributed 2.15 kills per set.

On defense, Peyton Wahl (Fr., DS/LIB, Richland, WA/Richland HS) leads Willamette with 154 digs and 4.05 digs per set. Other leaders in digs are Lindsey Compton (Jr., OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford) with 2.94 per set, Alexa Becker (Fr., OH, El Dorado Hills, CA/Rider University) with 2.79 per set and Dowdell with 2.53 per set.

Team leaders for the Bearcats on defense at the net are Emma Liband (Fr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) with 0.87 blocks per set, Taylor Gee (Sr., MH/OH, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) with 0.78 blocks per set and Taylor Lum (So., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS) with 0.76 blocks per set.

WU players have achieved 17 block solos and 120 block assists. The Bearcats are averaging 1.92 team total blocks per set.

Puget Sound, traditionally a power in the Northwest Conference, is off to a slow start this season with just two wins in 11 matches. Emily Convery (Jr., MB) tops the Loggers' team statistics with 2.12 kills per set and a solid .237 hitting percentage. NIcolette Reynaud (Sr., MB) has added 1.75 kills per set and a .184 hitting percentage.

Convery and Reynaud also have contributed at the net on defense. Reynaud is averaging 0.75 blocks per set, while Convery has achieved 0.74 blocks per set. Libero Rachael Garrison (Fr.) ranks first for UPS with 188 digs and 4.48 digs per set. She has played in 42 of 43 sets.

Kristen Lane (So., MB) trails only Garrison in digs per set. She has averaged 2.95 digs for the Loggers this season.

George Fox has received strong play from Erin Campbell (Jr., OH), who leads the Bruins with 97 kills and 2.42 kills per set. She also has provided GFU with 2.45 digs per set and has earned nine service aces.

Kylee Adderson (Jr., RS) has contributed 2.17 kills per set. She also has recorded 0.54 blocks per set.

Setter Payton Shrum (So.) enters the weekend with an average of 8.37 assists per set for the Bruins. In addition, she has supplied 2.73 digs per set.

After hosting UPS and GFU, the Bearcats will remain at home to take on Whitworth University and Whitman College next weekend. Willamette will play Whitworth on Friday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. (PDT) and will face Whitman on Satrurday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. (PDT).