By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Kortney Meyer of Lewis & Clark College pounded out 20 kills with just one attacking error and a .704 hitting percentage to lead the Pioneers past Willamette University, 3-1, in Northwest Conference volleyball action at Cone Field House on Saturday, Oct. 1. The Pioneers won 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 25-10.
Lewis & Clark, which finished with a 57-36 advantage in kills, improved to 4-9 overall, 3-3 in the NWC. Willamette moved to 4-10 on the season, 2-4 in the NWC.
Meyer was followed on L&C's offensive chart by Julia Somers, who registered 10 kills, 12 digs and four service aces. Alexe Navarro, the Pioneers' libero, accumulated a match-high 27 digs, while Casey Myszkowski and Bailee Cragun each provided six block assists -- mostly together on combo blocks.
Alexa Dowdell (Sr., OH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) topped Willamette with 14 kills to go along with nine digs and three block assists. Jennifer Lane (Fr., MH/OH, Salinas, CA/Notre Dame HS) earned six kills. Kaylen Higa (So., LIB/DS, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) contributed 13 digs, and Tynan Gable (Jr., S, Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS) supplied 30 assists.
Willamette started the first set strong, building an 8-4 lead, including one kill each by five players. The Pioneers battled back to within 9-8 on a kill by Myszkowski, and then tied the score and took the lead on back-to-back kills by Emma Contreras. Myszkowski added another kill for an 11-9 lead.
L&C was in front 14-11 a few points later after Dowdell recorded a kill for the Bearcats. The Pioneers then scored on four consecutive rallies to increase their lead to 18-11. Lewis & Clark won the set, 25-17.
The Bearcats and the Pioneers were tied at 11-11 in the second set. L&C moved in front 19-12 with an 8-1 run that included four combo blocks by the Pioneers. WU rallied to within 21-20 on an 8-2 run of its own.
Lewis & Clark and Willamette exchanged the next two points, before the Pioneers closed out the set with three consecutive points for a 25-21 win.
In the third set, Willamette led 14-9 on a block by Dowdell and Taylor Lum (Sr., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS), but L&C eventually cut the margin to 18-17 on a service ace by Meyer.
WU surged out to a 22-17 lead, as a 4-0 run ended with a combo block by Emma Liband (Jr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) and Dowdell, plus a service ace by Lane.
The Bearcats also led 23-19 and 24-21 after kills from Dowdell. L&C got as close as 24-23 on a kill by Cragun, but Dowdell tacked on her sixth kill of the set for a 25-23 victory.
L&C zoomed out to a 12-4 lead in the fourth set on its way to a 25-10 win. The Pioneers hit .481 and recorded 14 kills during the set.
Willamette will return to action on Friday, Oct. 7 with a home match against Pacific University. Match time at Cone Field House is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).
