Bearcats to Host Pacific Lutheran, Play at Pacific to end Season

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University will complete the volleyball season by hosting Pacific Lutheran University on Friday, Nov. 7 before playing at Pacific University on Saturday, Nov. 8. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (PST).

It will be Senior Night for the Bearcats on Friday. The teams seniors will be honored following the match. This year's seniors are Elisa Ahern (Sr., OPP, Lake Forest Park, WA/Shorecrest HS), Taylor Gee (Sr., MH/OH, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) and Bailey Kray (Sr., S, Corona Del Mar, CA/Mater Dei HS).

You can watch Live Video and follow Live Stats from Willamette on Friday. Brandon Chinn will be the announcer during the webcast. On Saturday, Pacific will be providing Live Video and Live Stats from Forest Grove, Ore.

Sarah Fincher (Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) is the leading hitter for Willamette with 265 kills and 3.31 kills per set. She ranks second in the NWC in kills per set and is third in total kills. She also contributes 2.12 digs per set.

Alexa Dowdell (So., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) has achieved 178 kills and 2.28 kills per set. She has registered double-digit kills in three of WU's last four matches, including a career-high 15 kills at Whitworth on Oct. 31. She also is among the Bearcats' top defenders with 2.49 digs per set.

Gee leads Willamette with 1.12 blocks per set. She has supplied 82 blocks this year. Peyton Wahl (Fr., LIB/DS, Richland, WA/Richland HS) ranks first on the team with 4.2 digs per set.

The top attacker for Pacific Lutheran is Lucy Capron with 303 kills in 24 matches and 82 sets. She leads the NWC with 3.70 kills per set. Kylai Cooley has added 3.17 kills per set this year. Overall, eight of the Lutes are averaging more than one kill per set.

Amber Aguiar of PLU tops the conference stats with an impressive 7.18 digs per set. She has recorded a school record 596 digs in 2014. Setter Samantha North has provided the Lutes with 10.67 assists per set to rank second in the NWC. Michaela Edgers leads the team and is tied for first in the conference with 1.31 blocks per set.

The Pacific Boxers have received 2.85 kills per game from Una Areta. Haley Bedell has pounded out 2.49 kills per set, while Hannah Herbert has earned 2.00 kills per set. Bedell ranks third in the NWC with an average of 0.42 service aces per set. She has contributed 29 aces while playing in 69 of 71 sets this season.

Lia Zablan has played in all 71 sets and leads the Boxers with 4.20 digs per set. She has recorded 298 digs this year.