By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University battled Pacific Lutheran University, one of the top teams in the Northwest Conference, on Friday, Oct. 15 at Cone Field House. Setter Emma Porter (Jr., Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) led Willamette with 31 assists and 21 digs, while teammate Dani Queja (Jr., OH, Ewa Beach, HI/Maryknoll School) recorded a match-high 16 kills. The Bearcats dropped the first set, but one the second set, before PLU took the next two sets by the smallest of margins. The Lutes prevailed, 3-1, winning 25-16, 22-25, 25-23, 25-23.

The Lutes finished the match with a slim 47-46 advantage in total kills. For Willamette, Porter's 31 assists and Queja's 16 kills were supplemented by 11 kills from Olivia Cadien (Fy., OH, Mesa, AZ/Chandler Preparatory Academy) and seven kills by Lexi Martin (Jr., MH, Bellevue, WA/Interlake HS).

Porter accumulated her 21 digs by providing solid defense during the match's many long rallies. She tied Shyla Sato (Jr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/MId-Pacific Institute), who also provided 21 digs for the Bearcats. In addition, Porter tied her own career-best for digs, matching her total against George Fox University on March 18, 2021.

Also earning double-digit digs for the Bearcats were Kela Iwata (Sr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/Kalani HS) with 16, Queja with 15, and Steele Jasa (Jr., S/LIB, Bend, OR/Summit HS) with 11. Kaitlyn Westby (Fy., MH, Redmond, WA/Eastside Catholic HS) earned a team-high three block assists. Cadien led WU with three service aces, as the Bearcats registered 10 aces overall. Willamette played without injured hitters Natalie Klotz (Sr., OH, Bonner Springs, KS/Bonner Springs HS) and Ana James (Jr., OPP, Imperial Beach, CA/Mar Vista HS).

Pacific Lutheran survived the strong effort by the Bearcats to improve to 11-7 overall, 8-1 in the NWC. The Lutes trail only undefeated Whitworth University (9-0) in the conference standings. Willamette dropped to 7-8 on the season, 4-6 in the NWC.

McKenzie Pfeiffer provided the Lutes with 13 kills, while Jazz Alston connected for 11 kills and a .345 hitting percentage. Hallie Hetzler made 24 digs, while Emily Dulaney supplied 39 assists and 17 digs. The Lutes finished with 7.0 team total blocks, including four block assists each by Pfeiffer and Hailey Iha.

Pacific Lutheran tallied the first three points to open the match, but Willamette answered with a 3-0 run to tie the set, and the teams split the next six points for a 6-6 tie. The Lutes returned to the lead with three consecutive points, starting an 8-3 surge that gave PLU a 14-9 advantage. WU cut the margin to 14-12 on a kill by Cadien, but couldn't get closer. Several points later, Cadien registered a kill to pull the Bearcats within 17-14. The Lutes closed the set with an 8-2 run for a 25-16 win.

In the second set, Pacific Lutheran grabbed a 12-10 lead on a kill by Baylee Johnson. Willamette moved in front at 16-15 after a kill by Queja. PLU scored the next point on a kill from Pfeiffer, and the teams were tied again at 17-17. Willamette took the lead with a kill by Martin and moved ahead by two points, 19-17, on a service ace from Sato. A bit later, WU owned a 23-19 advantage on an ace by Queja. The Lutes earned three points in a row to cut the margin to 23-22, but the Bearcats won the set following a service error by Dulaney and an attacking error by Pfeiffer.

The third set included 11 ties and eight lead changes. Willamette held a 17-14 lead on a kill by Porter and eventually led 20-15. The Lutes answered with a 7-0 run, as PLU took a 22-20 lead. The Bearcats moved within one point three times, including 24-23 on a kill by Cadien. The Lutes earned the next point to claim the set, 25-23.

PLU won the fourth set 25-23 after building early margins of 6-1 and 13-3. Willamette battled back as the Bearcats pulled within 20-17 on a service ace by Cadien, reduced the deficit to 22-20 on a service ace by Westby, and cut the margin to 22-21 when Martin followed up with a kill. The Bearcats also trailed by a single point at 23-22 and 24-23 after kills from Queja. A serving error by the Bearcats ended the match.

Willamette will take on Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, on Friday, Oct. 22. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT).