By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SHERMAN, Texas -- The Willamette University volleyball team lost to Concordia University (Texas), 3-1, and to host Austin College (Texas), 3-0, on Saturday, Sept. 10, during the second day of the Austin College Invitational. Willamette fell to 2-6 on the season and to 1-3 in the tournament.

Concordia rallied after dropping the first set to defeat the Bearcats, 16-25, 25-13, 25-23, 25-20. The Tornados improved to 4-3 on the season. Austin downed Willamette, 25-22, 25-14, 25-21, to advance its record to 6-3.

Alexa Dowdell (Sr., OH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) and Emma Liband (Jr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) topped Willamette's offensive chart against Concordia. Dowdell achieved a team-high 11 kils and hit .333. Liband pounded out 10 kills with no attacking errors, while hitting an impressive .769 for the Bearcats.

Against Austin, Dowdell registered nine kills and Jennifer Lane (Fr., MH/OH, Salinas, CA/Notre Dame HS) provided seven kills. Kaylen Higa (So., LIB/DS, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) earned 22 digs against Concordia and added 20 digs versus Austin.

Concordia Rallies after Dropping First Set

In the match against Concordia, the Bearcats surged out to a 25-16 win in the first set. Willamette took a 14-10 lead on a kill by Lauren Stiles (Fr., OH, Altadena, CA/Flintridge Preparatory School)l. Concordia eventually pulled within 17-16, but the Bearcats ended the set with an 8-0 run.

The scoring spree included three kills by Madison Haley (Fr., MH/OPP, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) and two combo blocks involving Haley.  Dowdell and Taylor Lum (Sr., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS) each registered a bloc assist.

The second set was won by the Tornados, who zoomed out to a 12-3 lead. Concordia later owned an 18-7 advantage, and remained in front by at least eight points the rest of the way in a 25-13 victory.

Both teams hit well in the third set, as the Tornados earned 18 kills and hit .286, while the Bearcats produced 15 kills and a .406 hitting percentage. Concordia led 14-11 following a kill by Kelly Farina, and the Tornados later held a 21-17 edge. WU countered with a 6-0 run that ended with back-to-back kills by Liband for a 23-21 lead.

Concordia tallied the next three points on kills. Carly Custer added a service ace, as the Tornados won the set, 25-23.

Willamette was in front 17-11 in the fourth set, but CU went on an 8-2 run for a 19-19 tie. Lane put down a kill to give the Bearcats a 20-19 lead, before the Tornados grabbed the next six points.

Farina of Concordia led all players with 18 kills. Custer tacked on 17 kills. Lexi Perez supplied the Torandos with 22 digs, while Lianne VanDyke amassed 45 assists.

Kangaroos Gain Edge on Bearcats with 14 Aces

Austin earned a slim 36-35 advantage in kills against Willamette, while the Bearcats attained a slim 42-41 margin in digs. The Kangaroos gained an important lead in service aces, with 14 compared to five for the Bearcats.

The first set included 11 ties and five lead changes. The final tie occurred when a serving error by Austin allowed Willamette to knot the score at 21-21. A kill by Dani DeWitt put the Kangaroos in front, 22-21, and started a 3-0 run. WU pulled within 24-22 on a kill by Dowdell, before Austin scored the final point of the set.

Fourteen kills and .414 hitting percentage helped Austin take a 25-14 win in the second set. Presleigh Watson pouned out five kills during the set.

In the third set, the teams were tied at 13-13 following a service ace by Katie Ingle of Austin. The Roos took a 19-15 lead and also led 23-19. Austin won the set, 25-21.

Madison Lee recorded 11 kills to lead Austin. Watson accumulated nine kills and a .750 hitting percentage with no attacking errors. Ingle earned 28 assists.

Up Next for Willamette

The Bearcats will open Northwest Conference action when they host archrival Linfield College at Cone Field House on Wednesday, Sept. 14. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT).