By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Natalie Klotz (Jr., OH, Bonner Springs, KS/Bonner Springs HS) recorded 19 kills and Shyla Sato (So., LIB, Honolulu, HI/MId-Pacific Institute) added 35 digs, as the Willamette University Bearcats almost overcame a 2-1 deficit after three sets, but Pacific University held on to win 3-2 on Friday, March 5 at Cone Field House. Pacific moved to 2-0 on the season, 2-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 0-2 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

Pacific won 25-14, 16-25, 25-19, 15-25, 15-12. The Boxers held leads of 6-2 and 8-3 in the final set, but Willamette eventually took a 10-8 lead. The teams were tied at 12-12 before Pacific grabbed the next three points to win the match.

Klotz was joined in double digits for kills by teammate Arianna Khan (Sr., OH/OPP, Yuba, CA/River Valley HS), who contributed 10 kills. Emma Porter (So., S, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) provided the Bearcats with seven kills and no attacking errors for a .368 hitting percentage. Porter also registered 41 assists. Khan earned 24 digs.

Jordan Zweifel led Pacific with 19 kills, equalling Klotz for match-high honors. Nanea Lum and Elika Unti each achieved 10 kills for the Boxers. Zweifiel also led Pacific with 31 digs, while teammate Haley Walz tacked on 22 digs. Until topped the Boxers with a .348 hitting percentage.

As the match got underway, Pacific seized early momentum with a 4-1 lead. A bit later, the Boxers were in front 10-5 following a kill by Zweifel. Willamette pulled with 12-10 on a kill by Khan, and the Bearcats were within 13-11 two points later. The Boxers regained the lead with a 3-0 run that was completed by a kill from Charlotte Powell for a 16-11 margin. Pacific won the set, 25-14.

Willamette scored the first four points of the second set, starting with one kill each from Khan and Dani Queja (So., OH, Ewa Beach, HI/Maryknoll School). The Bearcats built a 9-4 advantage and never trailed during the set. Twice WU scored four consecutive points on its way to a 25-16 victory.

Pacific surged out to a 10-4 margin in the third set. Willamette later railed 13-7, but the Bearcats pulled within 16-13 on a kill by Khan. The Bearcats also got as close as 22-19 on a combo block by Vasquez and Khan, but couldn't catch Pacific, as the Boxers prevailed, 25-19.

A 5-0 run in the fourth set helped Willamette take a 14-7 lead. The run started with a kill by Klotz, while the next four points were scored with Klotz serving. An ace was followed by kills from Vasquez and Khan, before Vasquez added a solo block. The Bearcats coasted to a 25-15 win to force a fifth set.

After trailing 8-3 in the fifth set, the Bearcats scored seven consecutive points. The scoring surge began with a kill from Queja, who then served for Willamette's next six successful rallies. In addition to Queja's opening kill, five more kills were recorded by Willamette during the run -- four by Klotz and one by Kyana Benjamin (Sr., MH, Lubbock, TX/Lubbock HS).

Pacific counted with a 3-0 run that ended with a kill by Lum, as the Boxers took an 11-10 advantage. Willamette tied the score with a kill by Porter, and the Bearcats gained a 12-11 lead on a kill from Klotz.

Kills by Zweifel and Shaianne Cambra put Pacific in front, 13-12. The Boxers closed out the match by scoring on a Willamette attacking error and then receiving a kill from Zweifel.

Willamette ended the match with 55 kills, while Pacific accumulated 53 kills. The Boxers held a 111-105 margin in digs and registered 7.0 team total blocks. The Bearcats attained 5.0 team total blocks. Pacific hit .175 and Willamette hit .155.

The Bearcats will play at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, on Friday, March 12. Match time is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).