Bearcats Outlast #16 Trinity in Five-Sets at UMHB Volleyball Invitational

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

BELTON, Texas -- Willamette University battled nationally ranked Trinity University (Texas) in a five-set match at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Volleyball Invitational on Friday, Sept. 4 in Belton, Texas, with the Bearcats edging out the Tigers, 25-23, 19-25, 23-25, 25-16, 16-14. Willamette evened its record at 1-1, while Trinity, ranked #16 by the American Volleyball Coaches Association in the NCAA Division III Preseason Poll, dropped to 2-2.

The Bearcats took a 4-1 lead in the fifth set on a kill by Riley Fawcett (Jr., OH, Normandy Park, WA/John F. Kennedy HS). Trinity rallied to tie the score at 6-6 on a killby Erika Edrington. A bit later, WU led 9-8, but the Tigers won three consecutive rallies for an 11-9 advantage on their way to a 13-10 lead.

Another kill by Fawcett, plus a combo block by Emma Liband (Sr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) and Alexa Becker (So., OH, El Dorado Hills, CA/Rider University) pulled the Bearcats within 13-12.

A kill by Alexa Dowdell (Jr., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) tied the score, and an attacking error by Kirby Smith of Trinity gave WU a 14-13 lead. The Tigers equalized the score with a kill by Kristina Hughes. Willamette won the next two points on a kill by Liband and an assisted block by Dowdell and Lindsey Compton (Sr.,, OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford).

The Bearcats hit an impressive .323 in the first set with 13 kills and just three errors on 31 attacks. WU won the set, 25-23, after building a 20-16 advantage. Dowdell provided a kill for the final point of the set.

Trinity countered by winning the second set, 25-19. The Tigers registered 22 kills during the set and earning a .321 hitting percentage. WU trailed by just two points at 12-10 and three points at 15-12. The next four points went to Trinity for a 19-12 lead.

In the third set, Willamette owned a 23-20 advantage before Trinity rolled off five consecutive points for a 25-23 win and a 2-1 lead. The 5-0 run began with a kill by Kristina Hughes and ended with a kill from Smith.

Willamette rebounded with a solid 25-16 victory in the fourth set. The Bearcats overcame early deficits of 5-1 and 6-4, before taking a 12-10 lead. Trinity pulled within 13-12 three rallies later, but Willamette answered by scoring three straight points to start a 7-1 run for a 20-13 lead. The Tigers never got closer than six points the rest of the set.

Dowdell led Willamette with 18 kills and a .515 hitting percentage. She committed only one attacking error on 33 total attacks. She also contributed 13 digs and a team high five block assists. Sarah Fincher (Sr., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) tacked on 13 kills, while Kaylen Higa (Fr., Mililani, HI/Punahou School) registered 20 digs.

Tynan Gable (So., S, Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS) earned 23 assists, while Compton supplied 21 assists, 18 digs and eight kills. Liband added eight kills, one block solo and four block assists.  Macy Hayashi (Sr., OH, Hilo, HI/Waiakea HS).

Smith topped Trinity with 19 killls and 30 digs. Kristina Hughes achieved 11 kills, while Edrington produced 57 assists and 17 digs. Shannon Courtney accumulated 22 digs.

Willamette hit .220 as a team and finished with 55 kills. Trinity's hitting percentage was .197, as the Tigers earned 71 kills, but committed 31 attacking errors, compared to 15 errors by the Bearcats.

The UMHB Vollleyball Invitational will continue on Saturday, Sept. 5. Willamette will take on Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) at 12:30 p.m. CDT/10:30 a.m. PDT. The Bearcats will conclude the tournament against host Mary Hardin-Baylor at 4:30 p.m. CDT/2:30 p.m. PDT.