By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University's Alexa Dowdell (Sr., OH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) recorded a match-high 16 kills and teammate Jennifer Lane (Fr., MH/OH, Salinas, CA/Notre Dame HS) pounded down 15 kills, as the Bearcats earned a 3-1 victory over archrival Linfield College on Wednesday, Sept. 14. It was Willamette's home opener at Cone Field House as well as the Northwest Conference opener for both teams.
The Bearcats improved to 3-6 on season and to 1-0 in the NWC. Linfield fell to 5-2 overall and to 0-1 in the NWC.
Dowdell and Lane, in addition to piling up kills, hit the ball with accuracy. Dowdell ended the match with a .368 hitting percentage, while Lane hit .367. Madison Haley (Fr., MH/OPP, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) added a .375 hitting percentage with four kills and one error on eigth attacks.
Linfield's top attackers were Taylor Petersen and Courtney McKenzie. Petersen achieved 11 kills and a .320 hitting percentage. McKenzie registered nine kills with no errors and a .643 attack percentage.
The Bearcats used an 8-0 run in the first set, including seven points with Tynan Gable (Jr., S, Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS) serving, to take a 16-6 lead. Willamette also held a 20-11 advantage before Linfield rallied to within 20-17 following a kill by Milly McTaggart.
WU tallied the next two points on attacking errors by the Wildcats for a 22-17 edge. Linfield pulled as close as 23-20, but a kill by Lane and an attacking error by McTaggart gave the Bearcats the final two points of the set.
After Linfield led 3-1 in the second set, the Bearcats put together seven consecutive points for an 8-3 lead. The Wildcats cut the margin to 10-9 and 11-10, but couldn't catch Willamette. The Bearcats went on a 9-3 run that included four kills and two blocks to claim a 20-13 lead.
Willamette remained in front the rest of the set and prevailed, 25-18. Lane recorded five kills during the set, helping the Bearcat hit .364.
The third set included nine ties and three lead changes. The teams were tied seven times between 11-11 and 17-17. Linfield tallied two ponits in a row on a service ace by Jamie Talbo and a combo block by McTaggart and Petersen for a 19-17 advantage.
A kill by Talbo a bit later gave Linfield a 21-18 lead. Willamette cut the margin to 22-21 on a combo block from Lauren Stiles (Fr., OH, Altadena, CA/Flintridge Preparatory School) and Haley, but Linfield won the set, 25-22.
In the fourth set, Willamette went on an 8-0 run for a 16-6 lead. The run included two kills by Dowdell, plus one kill each by Lane and Haley. Lane completed the run with a service ace. Linfield was unable to recover, and the Bearcats took a 22-9 lead before winning the set, 25-14.
Willamette finished the match with 47 kills, a .237 team hitting percentage, 62 digs and 13.0 team total blocks. Emma Liband (Jr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) topped the blocking effort with seven block assists, while Haley added five block assists.
Kaylen Higa (So., LIB/DS, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) provided a match-high 19 digs. Kunani Tuttle (Fr., S/OPP, Anahola, HI/Kappa HS) registered 20 assists and Gable provided 17 assists.
Linfield amassed 43 kills, but hit just .069. The Wildcats earned 67 digs, with Talbo supplying 16. Talbo also contributed 22 assists. Petersen was credited with five block assists, as Linfield recorded 8.0 team total blocks.
The Bearcats will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 16, when they are scheduled to take on Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Washington. Match time is set fr 7 p.m. (PDT).
