By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University senior outside hitter Alexa Dowdell (OH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) has been named to the All-Tournament Team for the Bethel Invititational this past weekend. The tournament was hosted Sept. 2-3 by Bethel University (Minn.).

Dowdell averaged 3.33 kills per set to lead the Bearcats. She registered a total of 40 kills and earned a .208 hitting percentage. She pounded out 14 kills in Willamette's 3-0 victory over University of Wisconsin-Superior during the second day of the tournament.

Also named to the All-Tournament Team were Carlee Hoppe (Sr., OH) and Kristin Stern (Jr., MB) from Bethel, Kennedy Hegert (Sr., LIB) and Mallory Dahl (Sr., OH) from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Aryn Jones (Jr., MB) from Wartburg College (Iowa), Meghan Lacey (Fr., OH) of Wheaton College (Ill.) and Brylee Colligan (Fr., OH) of UW-Superior. Stern from Bethel was named MVP of the tournament.

Willamette went 1-3 at the Bethel Invitational. Two of Willamette's losses were to Bethel, ranked #12 in the NCAA Division III Preseason Poll, and to Wartburg, which received votes in the Preseason Poll.

The Bearcats will return to action this weekend at the Austin College Tournament in Sherman, Texas. WU will take on four teams from Texas, starting with Sul Ross State University on Friday, Sept. 9 at 12 p.m. CDT/10 a.m. PDT. The Bearcats will play against McMurry University on Friday at 4 p.m. CDT/2 p.m. PDT. On Saturday, Sept. 10, Willamette will face Concordia University at 1 p.m. CDT/11 a.m. PDT), followed by a match with Austin College at 3 p.m. CDT/1 p.m. PDT).