By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Willamette University hitter Syd Bowen (So., OH/OPP, Tigard, OR/Wilsonville HS) contributed nine kills and achieved a .375 hitting percentage, but Whitworth University defeated the Bearcats, 3-0, in the Northwest Conference opener for both teams on Friday, Sept. 15 at the Whitworth Fieldhouse. Whitworth won 25-22, 25-18, 25-17. The Pirates, who tied for the NWC championship last season, improved to 4-5 overal, 1-0 in the NWC. Willamette, which tied for third place in the NWC last fall, fell to 5-3 on the season, 0-1 in the NWC.
Bowen registered four kills in the first set, which featured nine ties and two lead changes. She added three kills in the second set and produced two kills in the third set. Olivia Cadien (Jr., OH, Mesa, AZ/Chandler Preparatory Academy) tacked on seven kills for the Bearcats.
Emma Porter (Grad., S, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) supplied 21 assists to lead all players, while Shyla Sato (Sr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) accumulated a match-high 12 digs. Sydney Locke (So., MB, Federal Way, WA/Decatur HS) provided five kills and two block assists.
Whitworth gained a 39-27 advantage in kills and the Pirates earned a .337 team hitting percentage. Ella Jimenez registered 15 kills and five digs for Whitworth. Cassidy Franklin finished with seven kills and Kaity Barr attained six kills. Barr also connected on two service aces and topped all players with three total blocks. Mya Rodriguez was credited with 16 assists for the Pirates.
Willamette led 3-1 at the start of the opening set, but Whitwroth took a 5-4 lead on a kill by Jimenez. Later, the teams were tied four times between 9-9 and 13-13 with Cadien creating the final tie by pounding a kill. The Pirates grabbed a 15-13 lead with a kill by Jimenez and a service ace from Josephine Thompson.
The Bearcats trailed for the rest of the set, but cut the margin to a single point five times, ending with a 19-18 score following a kill by Katey Cramer (So., OH, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS/Cuesta College). Whitworth scored the next two points and eventually held a 23-19 lead. Locke produced a kill for Willamette during the next rally and then recorded a service ace to pull the Bearcats with in 23-21. The Pirates won the set 25-22.
The score was tied twice in the early portion of the second set before the Pirates went on a 5-1 surge for an 8-4 advantage. Willamette battled back with a 9-5 run of its own to tie set at 13-13. Whitworth answered with a 6-3 run as the Pirates claimed a 19-16 lead on a kill by Barr. The Bearcats moved within 19-17 on a kill from Bowen, but the Pirates won 25-18.
Whitworth was in front throughout the third set, including a 5-0 start and a 10-6 lead after 16 rallies. Willamette also trailed by just four points at 12-8 following a combo block by Porter and Kaitlyn Westby (So., MH, Redmond, WA/Eastside Catholic HS). The Bearcats were unable to move closer and Whitworth clinched the match with a 25-17 victory.
Willamette will play at Whitman College on Saturday, Sept. 16. Match time is set for 6 p.m. PDT.
