Volleyball Edges SUNY Oneonta, 3-0

By Sara Elcano, Assistant Athletics Communications Director

FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- For the second time today, the Willamette University volleyball team earned a victory in straight sets, 28-26, 25-19 and 28-26, over SUNY Oneonta (N.Y.) at the Boxer Kickoff Volleyball Invitational. The Bearcats defeated Bethel University (Minn.) earlier in the day and have moved their season record to 2-1, including 2-0 in the tournament.

Molly Blankenship (MH, Spokane, WA/Spokane Falls CC) followed up a good performance this morning with 16 kills and four aces in the second match of the day. The senior added seven digs.

Emily Compton (S, So., Portola, CA/Boise State Univ.) and Brigit Miller (S, So., Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) shared time at the setter position. Compton achieved 21 assists and four digs. Miller added 16 assists and four digs of her own.

Willamette had 44 kills and 11 aces compared to the Red Dragons' 34 kills and three aces.

In the first set, the Bearcats trailed 26-25, when they got a kill from Blankenship to tie the score. Following an attacking error by the Red Dragons, it was another kill by Blankenship that cemented the victory for Willamette.

Willamette also took advantage of attacking errors by SUNY Oneonta in the second set. The Red Dragons hit just .021 in the set, leaving the door wide open for the Bearcats.

The third and final set was another close battle. The teams were tied 13 times during the set, before a service error by the Red Dragons gave WU a 27-26 advantage. Willamette capitalized on the error and ended the game on a serving ace by Kellie Menghini (LIB, Jr., Anchorage, AK/South Anchorage HS), 28-26.

Willamette will look to move its winning streak to three matches when the Bearcats face Nebraska Wesleyan University on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 3:45 p.m. (PDT). The match will be played in Forest Grove, Ore., at Pacific University.