Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. -- Nebraska Wesleyan University earned a .252 team hitting percentage and recorded 7.0 team total blocks, as the Wolves defeated Willamette University, 3-0, at the Bethel Invitational on Friday, Sept. 2. Nebraska Wesleyan took the match 25-18, 25-14, 26-24 to open the season 1-0. Willamette fell to 0-1.
Both teams hit the ball well in the first set, with the Wolves claiming a .452 percentage and Willamette connecting for a .300 percentage. Alexa Dowdell (Sr., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) of WU and Kierra Harder of NWU each registered five kills.
Willamette started strong, as the Bearcats built a 7-2 lead. The Wolves rallied by turning small advantages in kills (16 to 13), fewer kill errors (2 to 4) and net points on service aces and errors (2 to 0) during the set to take a 25-18 win. The Bearcats were within 17-16 on a kill by Madison Haley (Fr., MH/OPP, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) before NWU went on an 8-2 run.
In the second set, the Wolves surged out to an 8-3 lead. Willamette answered with four consecutive points, ending with a kill by Riley Fawcett (Sr., OH, Normandy Park, WA/John F. Kennedy HS) that cut the margin to 8-7. Nebraska Wesleyan answered with a 7-0 run to take control of the set it's way to a 25-14 victory.
The Bearcats and the Wolves battles throughout the third set, with Willamette leading much of the way. Early on the Bearcats were in front 4-1 and 9-5. A bit later, WU extended its lead to 15-10 after a serving error by the Wolves. NWU eventually tie the score at 17-17 on a combo block by Karrie Sestak and Malory Dahl.
Nebraska Wesleyan tallied five of the next six points, including three kills by Dahl, to take a 22-18 lead. A kill from Dowdell of Willamette started a 5-1 run by the Bearcats that tied the set at 23-23. The final two points of the run were scored on successful attacks by Fawcett and Taylor Lum (Sr., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS).
A ball-handling error by WU gave the Wolves a 24-23 lead, but Dahl committed a serving error and the score was tied again. NWU tacked on the final two points on an attacking error by Willamette and a kill by Sestak.
Three Nebraska Wesleyan players attained double-digit kill totals during the match. Dahl led the way with 15 kills, while Sestak and Harder both registered 10 kills. Sestak hit .471 and harder hit .391, as each player was charged with only one attacking error.
Kennedy Heigert provided 24 digs for the Wolves. Taylor Crandall registered 40 assists.
Dowdell topped the Bearcats with 10 kills. She also earned 10 digs. Libero Kaylen Higa (So., Mililani, HI/Punahou School) led all players on both teams with 25 digs.
The Bearcats will be back in action later in the day when they take on host Bethel University. Match time is set for 7:30 p.m. (CDT)/5:30 p.m. (PDT).
