Colorado College, Ranked #17, Defeats Willamette Twice to Win Molten Classic

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Colorado College, ranked #17 in NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), defeated Willamette University twice during the second day of the Molten Classic on Saturday, Sept. 7. The Tigers downed the Bearcats 3-0 in round-robin play, before moving past Willamette, 3-0, in the championship match.

In the round-robin matchup, the Tigers prevailed, 25-15, 28-26, 25-17. Colorado College won the championship match, 25-21, 25-22, 25-17. With the pair of wins, Colorado College improved to 8-0 on the season. Willamette dropped to 4-4.

Abbe Holtze of CC registered 20 kills and a .475 hitting percentage in the first match. Emily Phillips contributed 11 kills and 15 digs for the Tigers, while Devon Lucero earned 42 assists.

Kirsten Brehmer (Sr., MH/OPP, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen HS) led the Bearcats with nine kills and 12 digs in the first meeting with the Tigers. Lindsey Compton (So., OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford) added eight kills. Emily Compton (Sr., S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Boise State Univ.) supplied 32 assists.

During the championship match, Kristen Liberty and Courtney Birkett pounded out 10 kills apiece for the Tigers. Birkett also earned nine digs and three service aces. Lucero created 33 assists.

Sarah Fincher (So., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue/Southwest Baptist Univ.) produced six kills and Shannon Waltz (Sr., MH, Honolulu, HI/La Pietra School for Girls) finished with five kills in the title match. Emily Compton attained 22 assists, while Carly Hargrave (Sr., MH, Happy Valley, OR/Clackamas HS) earned five block assists.

Fincher and Waltz were named to the Molten Classic All-Tournament Team. Other All-Tournament selections were Holtze (MVP), Birkett and Lucero from Colorado College, Katie Long from Bridgewater College (Va.) and Katie Freitag from Lakeland College (Wis.).

Willamette's next action is set for Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Ore. Match time is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).