Led by Fincher's 16 Kills, Bearcats Win at Whitman, 3-1, in Volleyball

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Willamette University received 16 kills from senior outside hitter Sarah Fincher (Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.), and the Bearcats continued their successful blocking at the net, for a 3-1 road victory over Whitman College on Saturday, Oct. 10.

The Bearcats improved to 11-5 overall and remained in first place in the Northwest Conference at 7-1. Whitman dropped to 4-10 overall, 2-6 in the NWC.

One night after earning 14.0 team total blocks (1 block solo, 26 block assists) in a 3-1 loss at Whitworth, the Bearcats registered 16.0 team total blocks against the Missionaries. The Bearcats blocked down Whitman efforts three times with solo blocks and also had 26 block assists. Emma Liband (So., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) led the way with 11 total blocks. Alexa Dowdell (Jr., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) added seven blocks.

Fincher reached double-digit kills for the 11th time this season. She achieved a .368 hitting percentage against the Missionaries with only two errors on 38 attacks.

Alexa Dowdell (Jr., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) and Lindsey Compton (Sr., OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford) each contributed nine kills for Willamette. Compton also produced 25 assists. 

Abby Seethoff topped Whitman's stats with 20 kills an a .421 hitting percentage. Natalia Zea supplied 11 kills, while Shae Kanakaole pounded out nine.

In the first set, Willamette took charge with a 14-1 run that turned a slim 5-3 advantage into a 19-4 margin. The run included four service aces by Kaylen Higa (Fr., LIB/DS, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) and three kills by Compton. Whitman pulled wihtin 21-15 on a kill by Zea, but WU won the set, 25-16.

Whitman gained leads of 8-4 and 14-7 in the second set, before Willamette gradually rallied ot get within a single point at 19-18. The Missionaries scored the next point on a kill by Megan Henry to start a 5-1 surge for a 24-19 lead.

The Bearcats ran off the next four points -- two on combo blocks by Fincher and Liband -- to cut the margin to 24-23. A kill by Seethoff won the set for the Missionaries.

Willamette was in front 9-3 in the third set. A bit later, the Bearcats gained a 16-9 margin with a kill by Liband. Whitman eventually pulled within a single points at 21-20 and tied the Bearcats three rallies later at 22-22 on an attacking error by the Bearcats.

A service ace by Anna Dawson gave Whitman a 24-23 lead. On the next point, Dawson committed a serving error. WU added a team block by Dowdell and Compton, followed by a solo block by Dowdell to take the set, 25-23.

Willamette won the first six points of the fourth set with Compton serving. The Missionaries got as close as one point at 7-6, 12-11, 14-13 and 20-19, but were unable to catch the Bearcats. WU used a 5-1 run, including a pair of kills by Taylor Lum (Jr., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS) to end the match with a 25-20 win.

Whitman earned 57 kills to 48 kills for the Bearcats. The Missionaries also had 33 attacking errors, while Willamette made just 17 errors. As a result, WU attained a .220 hitting percentage, with Whitman hitting .148.

In addition to successful blocking, the Bearcats received solid efforts on the back line. Higa finished with 15 digs, Dowdell earned 13 and Tynan Gable (So., S, Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS) supplied 12. Hannah Linsenmayer of Whitman led all players with 20 digs. Dawson recorded 13 digs for the Missionaries.

The Bearcats will play their third straight road match on Friday, Oct. 16 at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (PDT).