By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University junior libero Shyla Sato (Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Volleyball Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week for her efforts in matches against Pacific University on Friday, Nov. 5 and the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Nov. 6. The Bearcats fell to the Boxers on Friday, but defeated the Loggers on Saturday in the final match of the season.

Sato averaged 5.17 digs per set during the week, with 31 digs in 6 sets. She also earned two service aces. She registered 16 digs in a 3-0 loss at Pacific and contributed 15 digs in a 3-0 upset of Puget Sound. Willamette ended the season at 9-12 overall and 6-10 in the NWC. Puget Sound finished with a 16-9 overall record, including 10-6 in the NWC.

For the season, Sato led the Bearcats with 424 digs as she averaged 5.44 digs per set. She played in all 21 matches and all 78 sets. She provided Willamette with 15 or more digs in 20 of 21 matches, including 32 digs against Whitman on Sept. 24.