By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Shyla Sato (Jr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/MId-Pacific Institute) earned eight digs for the Bearcats in an exhibition match against crosstown rival Corban University on Saturday, Aug. 28 at the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center, but the Warriors defeated the Bearcats, 3-0. Corban won, 25-13, 25-16, 25-15.

The Warriors, who are members of the NAIA and the Cascade Collegiate Conference, remained 6-0 on the season. Willamette, which competes in NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference, will begin regular season action on Wednesday, Sept. 1 with a non-conference match at Cone Field House against Lewis & Clark College. The action is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. (PDT).

Rylee Troutman led Corban with 11 kills, while Ally Tow added nine kills and Ainslie Ridgway contributed nine kills. Jadyn Mullen supplied 14 assists. Kealani Ontai achieved nine digs for the Warriors. Corban attained a .429 team hitting percentage.

Willamette was led by Sato on defense and by Natalie Klotz (Sr., OH, Bonner Springs, KS/Bonner Springs HS) on offense. Klotz regsitered six kills. Emma Porter (Jr., S, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) was credited with nine assists.

Corban grabbed a 7-2 lead in the first set. The Warriors extended the margin to 17-7 following a kill by Troutman. The Bearcats recorded four points in a row, including kills by Ana James (Jr., OPP, Imperial Beach, CA/Mar Vista HS) and Kela Iwata (Sr.., LIB, Honolulu, HI/Kalani HS), plus a service ace by Oliva Cadien (Fy., OH, Mesa, AZ/Chandler Preparatory Academy) and an attacking error by the Warriors. The run reduced the margin to 17-11. Corban scored eight of the next 10 points on its way to winning the set, 25-13.

The Warriors opened the second set with six points in a row to start an 8-1 run. Willamette pulled as close as 12-10 on a service ace by Kaiona Apio (So., OH, Edmonds, WA/Edmonds-Woodway HS). WU also trailed by just two points at 14-12 following a kill by Cadien, but Corban answered with a 7-2 run to control the set.

In the third set, Corban held a slim 5-4 lead after nine rallies. The Warriors added a 7-1 run for a 12-5 margin, as Tow provided two kills and two block assists. Willamette earned the next two points on a kill by Lexi Martin (Jr., MH, Bellevue, WA/Interlake HS) and a block by Cadien, but couldn't get closer to the Warriors.