Bearcats Rally from Two Sets Down to Defeat Pacific, 3-2

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- The Willamette University Bearcats rallied from a 2-0 deficit to move past Pacific University, 3-2, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Friday, Oct. 23. The Bearcats improved to 12-7 overall, including 8-3 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific dropped to 8-11 on the season, 5-6 in the NWC.

Pacific won the first two sets, 25-20 and 25-23. Willamette took the final three sets, 25-23, 25-21, 15-13. The Bearcats trailed 4-1, 8-4 and 12-11 in the fifth set, before going on a match-winning 4-1 run.

After a bad set by Pacific, the Bearcats took a 13-12 lead on a kill by Sarah Fincher (Sr., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.). Another bad set gave WU a 14-12 advantage. An attacking error by the Bearcats cut the lead to a single point, and then Fincher closed out the match with a kill.

Fincher led the Bearcats with 17 kills and a .204 hitting percentage. She also recorded six block assists, helping Willamette earn 14.0 team total blocks.

Setter Tynan Gable (So., Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS) contributed 32 assists and 11 digs. Kaylen Higa (Fr., LIB/DS, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) provided a team-high 19 digs.

Lindsey Compton (Sr., OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford) finished with nine kills, while Alexa Dowdell (Jr., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) added seven kills. Dowdell and Taylor Lum (Jr., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS) each recorded seven total blocks.

For the Boxers, Marie Rewick pounded out a match-high 20 kills. Clara Smith tacked on 17 kills, while Morgan Mendicino earned 11 kills and hit .320. Lia Zablan of Pacific topped all players with 36 digs. Emily Farnham was credited with 33 assists, and Jamie Steach produced 28 assists.

The Boxers took quick control of the opening set, surging out to a 7-0 lead on their way to a 12-3 advantage. Four of Pacific's first 12 points were scored on kills by Rewick. WU countered with an 11-5 run that cut the lead to 17-14 following a combo block by Dowdell and Compton. Pacific earned five of the next six points for a 22-15 lead on its way to a 25-20 win.

Pacific built leads of 5-1 and 11-4 in the second set. This time, Willamette mounted a comeback that tied the score at 18-18. The 14-7 run included five kills -- two by Fincher -- plus a service ace by Macy Hayashi (Sr., OH, Hilo, HI/Waiakea HS) and four attacking errors by the Boxers.

After WU tied the score, Pacific registered three consecutive points for a 21-18 advantage. The Bearcats got as close as 23-22 and 24-23, but the Boxers won the set, 25-23, on a kill by Hannah Herbert.

Willamette rallied from a 10-5 deficit in the third set. The Bearcats tied the score at 14-14 after the Boxers committed four attacking errors, including one on a block by Lum and Fincher. WU took a 15-14 edge with a kill from Fincher, but Pacific eventually led 18-15.

A bit later, the Bearcats trailed 23-22, but reeled off three consecutive points to win the set. Dowdell blocked a kill attempt by Kalli Dixon, and then Fincher added a kill for a 24-23 lead. Dowdell and Fincher combined for the final point by earning a combo block.

WU and Pacific were tied nine times in the fourth set, which also included six lead changes. Willamette gained control with a 5-1 run that turned a 15-14 lead into a 20-15 margin. Pacific got as close as 23-21 on a kill by Herbert, but Willamette took the set, 25-21.

During the match , the Boxers earned 69 kills compared to 44 kills for the Bearcats. Pacific, however, also committed 39 attacking errors, while Willamette had 25 attacking errors.

The Bearcats will play at University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Oct. 24 in Tacoma, Washington. Match time is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).