By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- With a win over Linfield University on Wednesday, Sept. 15, the Willamette University Bearcats have opened the Northwest Conference volleyball schedule with a positive result. Willamette downed the Wildcats, 17-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-22 to improve to 4-2 overall, 1-0 in the NWC. The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, Sept. 17 with an NWC match at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash. The action is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (PDT).

In the win over Linfield, three Bearcats achieved double-digit kills. Natalie Klotz (Sr., OH, Bonner Springs, KS/Bonner Springs HS) recorded 15 kills, while Olivia Cadien (Fy., OH, Mesa, AZ/Chandler Preparatory Academy) added 14, and Dani Queja (Jr., OH, Ewa Beach, HI/Maryknoll School) contributed 11. Emma Porter (Jr., S, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) guided the offense with 43 assists. Shyla Sato (Jr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/MId-Pacific Institute) led the defensive efforts with 19 digs.

Klotz ranks first on the team with 88 kill in 23 sets for an average of 3.83 kills per set to go along with a .216 hitting percentage. Queja has averaged 2.04 kills per set. Cadien is earning 1.87 kills per set and owns a .185 hitting percentage. Porter's work as the team's setter has allowed her to average 8.39 assist per set with 193 in 23 sets played. Queja leads the team with 10 service aces and 0.43 aces per set.

The WU defense has limited its opponents to a .137 hitting percentage. Sato's 114 digs have helped the Bearcats accumulate a total of 341 digs so far this season, an average of 14.83 digs per set.