By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Dani Queja (Jr., OH, Ewa Beach, HI/Maryknoll School) registered a match-high 18 kills and Shyla Sato (Jr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/MId-Pacific Institute) led all players with 32 digs, but Whitman College outlasted Willamette University, 3-2, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match at Cone Field House on Friday, Sept. 24. The Blues rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Bearcats, 25-27, 25-18, 20-25, 25-17, 15-10.

Willamette earned 61 kills to just 51 kills for the Blues, but Whitman hit .180, while the Bearcats finished at .106. Willamette also held a 7-5 edge in service aces. Whitman claimed a 107-101 advantage in digs, as both teams displayed many outstanding defensive plays. The Blues also attained 15.0 team total blocks, while the Bearcats were credited with 6.0 team total blocks. The exceptional defense by both teams led to many long rallies.

Queja was joined in double figures for kills by Natalie Klotz (Sr., OH, Bonner Springs, KS/Bonner Springs HS), who provided the Bearcats with 15 kills, and by Olivia Cadien (Fy., OH, Mesa, AZ/Chandler Preparatory Academy), who finished with 12 kills. Setter Emma Porter (Jr., Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) achieved 42 assists. Sato's 32 digs established a season high and were just three away from her career-best of 35 digs set against Pacific University on March 5, 2021 and against George Fox University on March 19, 2021.

In Friday's match against Whitman, Queja added 24 digs. Steele Jasa (Jr., S/LIB, Bend, OR/Summit HS) contributed 18 digs for the Bearcats.

Megan Suka topped the Blues with 15 kills. Emma Anderson tacked on 14 kills. Ava Brenkman earned 25 digs for the Blues, while libero Brooke Valentine provided 22 digs, and Anderson accumulated 20. Tate Cadang supplied 41 assists and led all players with four service aces.

There were eight ties and five lead changes in the first set. Willamette held a 13-9 advantage following a kill by Queja. Whitman answered with a 7-0 run to move in front, 16-13. Anderson was serving for the final six points of the run. Willamette fought back and eventually tied the set at 24-24 on a solo block by Porter.

A kill by Klotz gave WU a 25-24 lead, but the Blues tied the score with a kill from Cadang. Willamette won the next point on a Whitman attacking error, then scored set point in the 27-25 win with a kill by Klotz. The Bearcats registered 18 kills during the set.

Whitman rebounded in the second set with a 25-18 win after five ties and two lead changes. The final tie was at 10-10 on a service ace by Cadien of Willamette. The Blues countered with a 5-0 surge and eventually led 17-11 on a combo block by Cadang and Sydney London. WU cut the margin to 18-15 on a service ace from Sato, but Whitman outscored the Bearcats, 7-3 to complete the set.

In the third set, Willamette pounded out 15 kills and achieved a .225 team hitting percentage on their way to a 25-20 win. The Bearcats used a 6-1 run, including one service ace each by Porter and Klotz, to surge out to a 9-4 lead. A bit later, the Bearcats owned a 13-6 advantage after a bad set by the Blues. Whitman reduced the deficit to 13-9 and 15-13, before Willamette went on a 5-0 run to take control. The run started with three consecutive kills by Klotz, followed by a kill from Martin and a block by Martin and Klotz.

The Blues took the third set, 25-17. Willamette held a 7-4 lead, but Whitman recovered to tie the set at 11-11 on a kill by Anderson. WU was in front 12-11 before six consecutive points gave the Blues a 17-12 advantage.

Whitman gained a 5-2 lead early in the fifth set after a kill by Suka. The Bearcats responded with a 3-0 run to tie the score. The teams also were tied at 7-7, 8-8, and 9-9. A kill from Sophia Dominitz gave the Blues a 10-9 advantage, and Whitman tacked on three more points for a 13-9 margin. WU moved with 13-10 before a kill by Nicole Kelly and an attacking error by the Bearcats ended the set with Whitman winning, 15-10.

The Bearcats will remain at home to take on Whitworth University in an NWC match on Saturday, Sept. 25. The action is set to begin at 6 p.m. (PDT).