By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University volleyball players Natalie Klotz (Sr., OH, Bonner Springs, KS/Bonner Springs HS) and Shyla Sato (Jr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) have been named Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference for the fall 2021 season in voting by the NWC head coaches. It was the first time Sato has received All-NWC recognition, while Klotz was selected Second Team All-NWC in 2019.

A total of 18 student-athletes were chosen for the 2021 All-NWC Volleyball Team. Six players were named to the First Team, with six players on the Second Team, and six players receiving Honorable Mention. Whitworth University senior outside hitter Maddie Lee was chosen NWC Volleyball Player of the Year, while Halle Hetzler (Jr.) of Pacific Lutheran University was named NWC Volleyball Libero of the Year, and middle blocker Cassidy Franklin of Whitworth earned NWC Volleyball Freshman of the Year recognition. Head Coach Kati Bodecker of Whitworth was voted NWC Volleyball Coach of the Year.

"I am thrilled that Shyla and Natalie have been recognized as All-Conference athletes," Willamette Head Volleyball Coach Lily Hallock said. "The two anchored our defense and offense."

Willamette achieved a 9-12 record this fall, including 6-10 in the NWC. The Bearcats pounded out 917 kills to go with 1,331 digs, 135 service aces, and 91.5 team total blocks in 78 sets. Willamette averaged 11.7 kills and 17.1 digs per set.

Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference

Natalie Klotz (Sr., OH) was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC for the first time after earning Second Team All-NWC recognition in 2019. This fall, she contributed 161 kills and 3.74 kills per set before an injury prevented her from completing the season. She saw action in 11 matches and 43 sets. She registered a solid .226 hitting percentage and was credited with 12 service aces. She recorded 11 blocks.

Klotz ended the year ranked second in the NWC in kills per set. She earned more than 10 kills in nine of 11 matches. She produced 15 or more kills six times.

"Before Natalie's knee injury, she was leading the conference in kills per set," Hallock noted. "The night before her injury, she set a career high in kills with 28 in a four-set match. We had Natalie hit all across the net and she really was a challenge for the opposition to defend. In our final match versus Puget Sound, I had Natalie run one of our final timeouts. She has done some girls' club coaching and I hope she continues to pursue the profession."

During four seasons with the Bearcats, she earned 784 kills and 3.19 kills per set. She played in 68 matches and 245 sets, while earning 545 digs, 75 aces, and 47 total blocks. Klotz achieved her career high of 28 kills against George Fox University on Oct. 1, 2021, as she tied for the most kills by a Willamette player in a match since 2006. She provided a career-high 20 digs against Linfield College (now Linfield University) on Oct. 16, 2019. She was credited with six blocks against Johnson & Wales University (Colo.) on Aug. 31, 2018 and against Whitman College on Oct. 5, 2019. She registered six service aces versus Lewis & Clark College on Sept. 26, 2018.

Shyla Sato (Jr., LIB) was selected Honorable Mention All-NWC for the first time after having her third consecutive outstanding season at Willamette. This season, she averaged 5.44 digs per set with 424 digs in 78 sets. She played in all 21 matches. Sato also supplied the Bearcats with 21 aces. She earned 89 assists as the team's secondary setter.

Sato was chosen NWC Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week twice this year and three times during the 2020-21 season. She contributed 13 or more digs in all 21 matches this season, including 10 matches with 20 or more digs.

Last spring, she recorded a career-high 35 digs in two matches, against Pacific University on March 5, 2021 and versus George Fox on March 19, 2021. During the current season, she supplied 32 digs against Whitman College on Sept. 24 and 30 digs against George Fox on Oct. 29. Sato's single-game high for aces was five against George Fox on March 18, 2021.

"In NWC play, Shyla averaged 5.56 digs per set, ranking second in the conference," Hallock commented. "We count on Shyla to cover a lot of court, and watching her run and fly after balls is captivating. She is also a great communicator on the court."

Her career statistics included 1,050 digs and 5.25 digs per set. She also finished her career with 54 service aces and 197 assists. She played in 54 matches and saw action in 200 sets.