By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Natalie Klotz (Sr., OH, Bonner Springs, KS/Bonner Springs HS) pounded out 15 kills and Olivia Cadien (Fy., OH, Mesa, AZ/Chandler Preparatory Academy) finished with 14 kills to lead Willamette University past Linfield University, 3-1, on Wednesday, Sept. 15 in the Northwest Conference opener for both teams. The Bearcats dropped the first set before rallying to win the match at Cone Field House, 17-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-22.
Willamette advanced its record to 4-2 on the season, 1-0 in the NWC. Linfield fell to 4-3 overall, 0-1 in the NWC.
In addition to tying for the team lead in kills, Cadien provided a .737 hitting percentage. She earned her 14 kills on just 19 total attacks with no attacking errors. Dani Queja (Jr., OH, Ewa Beach, HI/Maryknoll School) provided WU with 11 kills, as she joined Klotz and Cadien in double figures. Setter Emma Porter (Jr., S, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) supplied 43 assists and 10 digs, while Shyla Sato (Jr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/MId-Pacific Institute) contributed 19 digs. Willamette hit .216 and accumulated 53 kills, while the Wildcats hit .198 with 47 kills.
Regan Dean led Linfield with 14 kills. Seraiah Ochse and Raelynn Hammock each added nine kills. Ochse hit .438 during the match. Aylea Dixon recorded 36 assists for the Wildcats. Dixon was credited with 12 digs and Yssa Alcones ended the match with 11 digs.
Linfield won the first set, but trailed 9-5 following back-to-back kills by Cadien. The Wildcats eventually took an 11-10 lead on a Willamette attacking error. Two rallies later, Linfield grabbed a 12-11 advantage on a kill by Ellie Mead. The kill by Mead opened a 6-2 run that gave the visitors a 17-13 edge. WU pulled within 20-16 on a kill by Cadien. Linfield closed out the set with a 5-1 run.
The second set featured five ties and four lead changes. Willamette surged out to a 7-3 lead. A bit later, the Bearcats held a 9-4 advantage before Linfield went on a 6-2 run, ending with a kill by Mead, to cut the margin to 11-10. Willamette extended the margin to 14-10 on a kill by Lexi Martin (Jr., MH, Bellevue, WA/Interlake HS).
WU also led 15-12, but the Wildcats put together a 7-0 run that ended with a service ace by Paige Richards to move in front, 19-15. Richards was the server on the final six points of the run. A combo block by Ana James (Jr., OPP, Imperial Beach, CA/Mar Vista HS) and Martin reduced Linfield's lead to 19-16 and WU moved another point closer when Martin followed with a kill. The Bearcats tied the set at 21-21 on a kill by Porter and took the lead on the next rally with a kill from Cadien. The teams were tied at 22-22 and 23-23, before an attacking error by Dean and a service ace by Queja gave the Bearcats a 25-23 win.
In the third set, Willamette took a 5-1 lead and never trailed. The Bearcats owned a 10-4 edge after Martin provided a kill. A bit later, LU reduced the lead to 10-9 and 13-12. A 5-0 surge by the Bearcats, including two kilsl by Cadien plus a service ace by Queja, put Willamette in front, 18-12. The Wildcats got as close as 22-19 on a kill by Dixon. Willamette won three of the next four rallies to take the set, 25-20.
The Bearcats and the Wildcats were tied four times early in the fourth set and there were two lead changes during the first nine points. After Willamette broke a 4-4 tie by scoring five unanswered points -- two on service aces by Klotz -- the Bearcats remained in front the rest of the way. Linfield was within two points three times, including 15-13 on a kill by Hammock. The Bearcats tallied the next two points to open a 4-1 run for a 19-15 advantage. Later, Linfield used a 3-0 surge to pull within 23-21. A kill by Klotz moved WU to match point, but Mead countered with a kill for the Wildcats. Willamette claimed the next point to win the set, 25-22.
Up next for the Bearcats is a trip to Tacoma, Washington, to take on NWC opponent Pacific Lutheran University on Friday, Sept. 17. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT).
