Bearcats to Compete at Cal Lu Fornia Invitational in Volleyball

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University volleyball team will be traveling for the second consecutive weekend when they compete at the Cal Lu Fornia Invitational, hosted by California Lutheran University on Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6.

Last weekend, the Bearcats played at the Texas Lutheran Bulldog Classic in Seguin, Texas, and achieved a 3-1 record with wins over Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham, Concordia University (Texas) and Schreiner University (Texas). The Bearcats lost to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

This week, WU travels to Thousand Oaks, Calif., to play four more games. On Friday, the Bearcats will take on Pomona-Pitzer at 5 p.m. (PDT) and will play Occidental College at 7 p.m. (PDT). On Saturday, Willamette is slated to take on Augustana College (Ill.) at 4 p.m. and the University of Redlands at 6 p.m. (PDT).

The Bearcats pounded out a .190 team hitting percentage and averaged 10.6 kills per set during their successful trip to Texas. Sarah Fincher (Jr., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) topped the offensive chart with 50 kills and also earned a .262 hitting percentage. She averaged 3.57 kills and 2.79 digs per set.

Alexa Dowdell (So., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) chipped in 2.27 kills and 3.09 digs per set. Taylor Gee (Sr., MH/OH, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) provided 1.47 kills per set on offense to go along with 0.80 blocks per set on defense. Setter Lindsey Compton (Jr., OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford) supplied a total of 96 assists, an average of 8.0 per set.

WU limited opponents to a .104 hitting percentage. The Bearcats allowed just 10.0 team total blocks in 15 sets, an average of 0.67 blocks per set.

Pomona-Pitzer is also 3-1 on the season. The Sagehens defeated Kean College (N.J.), the University of Texas-Tyler and Wheaton College (Ill.), but lost to Northwest Conference opponent Whitworth University. Ellen Yamasaki led the team with 2.64 kills per set, while MIchelle Schultz achieved 4.64 digs per set. Kirea Manzolini led the team with 1.21 blocks per set.

Occidental begins the tournament with a 1-3 record. The Tigers downed Kean, but lost to UT-Tyler, St. Scholastica (Minn.) and the University of California-Santa Cruz. Claire Strohm averaged 3.20 kills per set. Kandace Korver produced 4.20 digs per set and Megan Layinka supplied 1.07 blocks per set.

Augustana went 4-0 last weekend to start the season while hosting a tournament. The Vikings downed Cornell College (Iowa), the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Principia College (Ill.) and Benedictine University (Ill.).

Martha Murray topped the Vikings with 2.90 kills per set, whileEmily Leazer added 2.67 kills per set and Dory Dudley contributed 2.46 kills per set. Augustana earned a .241 team hitting percentage and held opponents to a .133 hitting percentage.

The University of Redlands is 0-1 after opening the season on Wednesday, Sept. 3 with a 3-0 loss to California State University-San Marcos. Ashton Martin led the Bulldogs with five kills. Mackenzie Nelson achieved six digs.

Willamette will play its home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 9, when the Bearcats will host Western Oregon University. Match time at Cone Field House is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).