Ahern and Fincher each Pound Out 11 Kills, as Bearcats Down Linfield, 3-0

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

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Elisa Ahern (Sr., OPP, Lake Forest Park, WA/Shorecrest HS) and Sarah Fincher (Jr., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) each recorded 11 kills, and Willamette University amassed 13.0 team total blocks, as the Bearcats defeated Linfield College, 3-0, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Willamette won 25-22, 25-19, 25-22, and improved to 10-8 on the season, 5-4 in the NWC. Linfield dropped to 6-8 overall, 5-4 in the NWC.

The win for the Bearcats avenged a 3-1 victory by Linfield when the teams met at Cone Field House in Salem, Ore., on Sept. 17. Linfield prevailed in that match, 25-19, 25-17, 23-25, 28-26.

In Wednesday's rematch, Linfield was led by Jamie Talbo with 10 kills and 14 assists. Quinn Takashima topped all players with 20 digs for the Wildcats.

The Bearcats built an 8-3 lead in the first set on the strength of a 5-0 run after the teams were tied at 3-3. Linfield eventually tied the game 10-10 on a kill by Caiti Barrie and took an 11-10 advantage on a ill by Kailana Ritte-Camara.

Willamette tallied the next three points on a kill from Alexa Dowdell (So., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) and to kills from Fincher for a 13-11 edge. A bit later, WU held a 17-13 margin, but the Wildcats battled back to tie the score at 18-18 following a service ace by Talbo.

Neither team could gain more than a one-point lead during the next eight rallies, as the teams were tied four more times. After Linfield forged the final tie at 22-22 with a kill by Barrie, WU scored three consecutive points to win the set.

Fincher broke the deadlock with a kill, and then Taylor Gee (Sr., MH/OH, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) and Lindsey Compton (Jr., OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford) combined to block a shot by Talbo. Another block, this time by Gee and Fincher on an attack from Ritte-Camara, provided the final point in a 25-22 win.

Linfield led 7-4 in the second set after Talbo registered a kill. WU went on a 4-0 run and moved into the lead, 8-7, with a service ace by Taylor Lum (So., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS).

The Bearcats also led 11-9 after a kill by Ahern, but the Wildcats rallied to take a 17-16 advantage. Willamette responded with a 5-1 run, starting with a combo block by Compton and Lum, and ending with a kill by Fincher. WU dropped the next point when Molly McTaggart earned a kill for Linfield, but the Bearcats still held a 21-19 lead.

Gee tacked on a kill, and then McTaggart committed an attacking error. Ahern provided a kill and Gee capped off the set with another kill for a 25-19 victory.

After the break between sets, Linfield surged out to leads of 3-0, 7-2 and 8-3 in the third set. The Wildcats also held a 12-7 margin after a serving error by the Bearcats, and took a 15-10 lead following a ball-handling error by Willamette.

A kill by Ahern plus an attacking error by Barrie cut the deficit to 15-12, but four straight points for Linfield gave the Wildcats a 19-12 lead. The Bearcats countered with a 6-0 run, including five points while Ahern served.

WU tied the score at 21-21 on a kill supplied by Fincher, and moved into the lead when Lum followed with a service ace.

The Bearcats claimed a 23-21 margin on a Linfield attacking error. McTaggart and Fincher then exchanged kills, leaving WU in front, 24-22. A block by Ahern and Gee completed the match, as the Bearcats took the third set, 25-22.

In addition to 11 kills each by Ahern and Fincher, Willamette's offense was led by 31 assists from Compton. The Bearcats achieved a .228 team hitting percentage, while limiting Linfield to a .073 percentage. On defense, four Bearcats earned more than 10 digs, led by Compton with 12. Gee topped WU with seven total blocks, while Ahern and Compton each had four blocks.

Talbo was the only Wildcat with double-digit kills, while McTaggart and Ritte-Camara each contributed seven kills. Takashima's match-high 20 digs were followed by 13 from teammate Victoria Henry.

Willamette will return home to host Lewis & Clark College on Friday, Oct. 17 at Cone Field House. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. (PDT).