Winningest Bearcats in History

Winningest Bearcats in History

By Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6219

SALEM, ORE. -- Four former Willamette University volleyball players have the distinguished honor of being the winningest Bearcats in the history of Willamette Athletics. The four players, Dana Newsom, Emily Moore, Brandi Row and Sarah Pitcher, accumulated 136 wins from 1992-1995.

The foursome won four conference championships and graduated with an overall record of 136-44 (.756). They lost just three conference games, finishing with a 47-3 (.940) conference record. In 1992 and 1994 the volleyball team finished undefeated in conference play.

WU's overall record was 40-15 in 1992, 37-13 in 1993, 30-5 in 1994 and 29-11 in 1995.

The 1994 team still holds the record for consecutive matches won (13) and consecutive games won (16). The 1994 team took fifth place at the Regional Tournament. In 1995, the team finished second at the Regional Tournament and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament.

Willamette's Athletics Communications Office was encouraged to research the winningest Bearcats of all time after Nicole Wallace (Sr., Roseville, CA/Roseville HS) won her 102nd game at WU. Wallace, barring any postseason berth for the Bearcats this spring, will leave Willamette with a 102-46 (.689) overall record. She finished with a 75-37 (.670) record in the Northwest Conference.

So far, research into the winningest Bearcat of all time has included only single sport participants. The Athletics Communications Office is currently researching the winningest multi-sport athlete in the history of Willamette Athletics.

The 1995 Willamette volleyball team earned a 29-11 overall record and won the NWC title with a 12-2 mark.