By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University played an outstanding match on Senior Night at Cone Field House on Saturday, Nov. 6, as the Bearcats earned a .286 team hitting percentage to sweep past the University of Puget Sound, 3-0. The Bearcats won 25-15, 25-21, 25-21, behind 13 kills each from Olivia Cadien (Fy., OH, Mesa, AZ/Chandler Preparatory Academy) and Dani Queja (Jr., OH, Ewa Beach, HI/Maryknoll School).
Ana James (OPP, Imperial Beach, CA/Mar Vista HS), one of three seniors honored by Willamette following the match, hit .500 while pounding out eight kills with no errors on 16 total attacks.
"What a fantastic match to celebrate our three seniors: Kela Iwata (DS, Honolulu, HI/Kalani HS) Natalie Klotz (OH, Bonner Springs, KS/Bonner Springs HS), and Ana James," Willamette Head Volleyball Coach Lily Hallock noted. "From day one, this team talked about supporting each other, and they did that day in and day out this season.
Lexi Martin (Jr., MH, Bellevue, WA/Interlake HS) added eight kills and three block assists for the Bearcats, while Emma Porter (Jr., S, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) provided 33 assists. Shyla Sato (Jr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) led all players with 15 digs. Iwata, Queja, and Steele Jasa (Jr., DS/S, Bend, OR/Summit HS) each contributed nine digs.
Puget Sound was led by Jordan Holman with seven kills. Aliah Ayau registered eight of the Loggers' 26 assists. Samantha Johnson was credited with 14 digs.
Willamette concluded the season with a 9-12 record, including 6-10 in the Northwest Conference. Puget Sound dropped to 16-9 overall, 10-6 in the NWC.
"Before tonight's match, we talked about enjoying the moment, celebrating our seniors, and playing with passion," Hallock said. "We did that from the first point and that enabled us to take control of the match from the beginning."
The Bearcats attacked with power and finesse in the first set on their way to a 25-15 win. Willamette recorded 17 kills and just two attacking errors while hitting .429 during the set.
Willamette opened the match by taking a 7-3 lead, including two kills by Cadien and one kill each from four other Bearcats. The Boxers pulled with 7-5 two rallies later and eventually reduced the lead to a single point at 10-9. An 8-0 run by the Bearcats -- seven points while Jasa was serving -- put WU in charge of the set at 18-9.
There were nine ties and seven lead changes in the second set, and it appeared that Puget Sound might seize momentum after building a 19-16 lead. A 4-0 surge by Willamette on a kill by Queja, a combo block by Queja and Martin, and two hitting errors by the Loggers put the Bearcats in front, 20-19. Puget Sound gained a 21-20 advantage, but WU countered with five consecutive points for a 25-21 victory. Three points during the run were on kills by Queja and one point was earned on a kill by Martin.
In the third set, there were six ties and four lead changes in the first 17 rallies, with Willamette claiming a 9-8 lead after recording two points in a row. The run extended to 9-0, giving the Bearcats a 16-8 margin. Porter was the server for WU on the final eight points of the run and registered one ace.
Willamette held the lead the rest of the way. The Loggers pulled within 19-14 on a service ace by Katherine Carley, before the Bearcats extended the lead to 23-15. Puget Sound moved as close a 24-21 after back-to-back kills from Carley. A kill by Cadien ended the match.
