By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Natalie Klotz (Jr., OH, Bonner Springs, KS/Bonner Springs HS) contributed 12 kills and Emma Porter supplied 27 assists to help Willamette University defeat nearby rival Linfield University in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Friday, April 2 at Cone Field House. Willamette breezed through the first two sets, 25-15 and 25-15, before rallying from a 21-16 deficit in the third set to close out the match with a 25-23 win.
The Bearcats improved to 3-4 overall, 3-4 in the NWC. Linfield concluded its season at 0-8 overall, 0-8 in the NWC. Willamette will complete its season by hosting Lewis & Clark College on Friday, April 9 at 7 p.m. (PDT).
Klotz was the only player on either team with a double-digit total for kills, but Arianna Khan (Sr., OH/OPP, Yuba, CA/River Valley HS) added nine kills and a .368 hitting percentage for the Bearcats. Dani Queja (So., OH, Ewa Beach, HI/Maryknoll School) provided seven kills. Shyla Sato (So., LIB, Honolulu, HI/MId-Pacific Institute) registered 16 digs, while Porter accumulated 10 digs. The Bearcats earned eight service aces, including three by Khan and two by Sato.
Willamette celebrated Senior Night, as Head Coach Lily Hallock spoke about the accomplishments of the Bearcats' three seniors -- Khan, Kyana Benjamin (Sr., MH, Lubbock, TX/Lubbock HS), and Elena Vasquez (Sr., OH, Kingston, WA/North Kitsap HS) -- following the match. Khan ended the night with 51 career matches and 145 career sets played. She now has 272 kills and 302 digs. Benjamin has seen action in 54 matches and 157 sets, while earning 161 kills and 85 total blocks. Vasquez has played in 60 matches and 203 sets, with 762 digs and 46 service aces.
Raelynn Hammock led the Wildcats with eight kills. Regan Dean and Megan Stanek each added five kills for Linfield. Aylea Dixon was credited with 19 assists, while Hammock recorded 14 digs. Maya Nakasone added 11 digs and Tessa Doerfler finished with 10 digs.
Willamette trailed 1-0 in the first set, but scored on the next five rallies for a 5-1 lead. The five points for WU included kills by Benjamin and Khan, an ace by Sato, a ball-handling error by Linfield, and a kill from Klotz. A bit later, Khan provided a kill that gave the Bearcats an 11-3 margin. Willamette led 17-7 following a kill by Vasquez, and the Bearcats remained in front by at least eight points the rest of the way, as they won the set, 25-15.
The Bearcats gained a 4-1 lead in the second set to start a 13-5 run. During those 18 rallies, Sato and Khan each registered a service ace, while Klotz added two kills. Queja contributed one kill and worked with Benjamin on a combo block. Willamette held an 18-7 advantage after back-to-back kills from Klotz, and continued to maintain a comfortable lead before prevailing, 25-15. Seven Bearcats earned at least one kill during the set, led by Klotz with four and Queja with three.
Each of the first two sets included just one tie and one lead change. In the third set, there were eight ties and six lead changes. Four of the ties were recorded up to a 5-5 mark. Willamette pulled in front with a service ace by Vasquez and eventually held a 9-5 edge.
Linfield gained a 13-12 lead following a bad set by the Bearcats. WU move back in front 14-13 on a block by Vasquez and Porter. The Wildcats claimed a 15-14 advantage following the next two rallies and later held a 19-16 lead on a kill by McKenzie Brock. Linfield added a service ace from Dixon and a kill by Dean to increase the margin to 21-16.
The Bearcats scored the next three points to force a timeout by Linfield. When the match resumed, Willamette pulled within 21-20 on a block by Benjamin and Queja. The Wildcats tallied two points on a kill by Stanek and an attacking error by Willamette to take a 23-20 lead.
WU scored the next five points to close out the match with a 25-23 win. Queja opened the run with a kill. An attacking error by Linfield was next. A service ace by Khan and another hitting miscue by the Wildcats put the Bearcats in front, 24-23. Khan scored the final point on a service ace.
