Bearcats Hit .287, Sweep Past Wisconsin-Superior, 25-19, 25-21, 25-22

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. -- Alexa Dowdell (Sr., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) contributed 14 kills, Jennifer Lane (Fr., MH/OH, Salinas, CA/Notre Dame HS) added 10 kills, and the Willamette University Bearcats recorded a .287 team hitting percentage in a 3-0 triumph over University of Wisconsin-Superior on Saturday, Sept. 3 at the Bethel Invitational. Willamette downed the Yellowjackets, 25-19, 25-21, 25-22.

Willamette improved to 1-3 on the season. UW-Superior, which hit .186 during the match, dropped to 0-4.

The Bearcats hit exceptionally well in the first two sets, pounding out a .364 percentage in the first set, followed by a .429 success rate in the second set. Dowdell recorded five kills in set #1 and added six kills in set #2. Lane provided six kills in set #3.

For the match, Lane hit .348 with just two attacking errors on 23 attacks. Dowdell supplied 13 digs to tie Kaylen Higa (So., LIB/DS, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) for team-high honors.

Each team finished the match with 45 kills. Tynan Gable (Jr., S, Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS) registered 19 assists for Willamette and Kunani Tuttle (Fr., S/OPP, Anahola, HI/Kappa HS) added 18 assists. Emily VerWay was credited with 38 assists for the Yellowjackets.

WU gained an edge on defense, with a 56-49 lead in digs to go along with 6.0 team total blocks. Madison Haley (Fr., MH/OPP, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) led the Bearcats with one block solo and five block assists. UWS had just 1.0 team block on two block assists.

The teams were tied 24 times during the match and there were 14 lead changes, but the Bearcats prevailed in each set.

Willamette broke a 14-14 tie in the first set by scoring three straight points on a kill by Taylor Lum (Sr., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS), a kill from Lane, and an attacking error by Brylee Colligan of Wisconsin-Superior. The Yellowjackets got within two points of the Bearcats three times, including 19-17, before WU ended the set with a 6-2 run.

Dowdell started the run by producing a kill. A bit later, Haley and Lum blocked an attack by Alexis Landherr for a 23-18 lead.

On the next rally, Haley and Lane combined for a block, giving WU a 24-18 edge. After UWS pulled within 24-19, the Bearcats ended the set with a kill by Haley.

WU built a 5-1 lead to begin the second set, including kills from Haley and Dowdell. The Yellowjackets battled back to pull within 6-5, and eventually tied the Bearcats at 12-12 and 13-13. A blocking error by Willamette and a service ace by Landherr gave UWS a 15-13 edge.

The Bearcats earned the next four points -- including two on kills from Dowdell -- to surge back in front, 17-15. The Yellowjackets tied the score two rallies later, but WU responded with a kill by Lauren Stiles (Fr., OH, Altadena, CA/Flintridge Preparatory School) and a service ace by Tuttle for a 19-17 lead.

WU remained in front the rest of the set. The Bearcats secured the 25-21 win on back-to-back kills by Dowdell and Stiles.

In the third set, there were 11 ties and seven lead changes. Willamette trailed 18-15 after 33 rallies, but gained momentum with a 4-0 run for a 19-18 advantage. The four-point surge started when Lum earned a kill, and continued with two kills from Lane. An attacking error by UW-Superior provided the fourth point.

The Yellowjackets claimed a lead at 20-19 on a combo block by VerWay and Leah Nightingale, but Willamette answered with four unanswered points. Lane registered a kill and then contributed a service ace. Dowdell added kill moments later, and a kill from Lum gave the Bearcats a 23-20 margin. WU won the set, 25-22.

Up next for Willamette is the Austin College Tournament in Sherman, Texas, on Friday, Sept. 9 and Saturday, Sept. 10. The Bearcats will play four teams from Texas during the tournament, starting with Sul Ross State University and McMurry University on Friday. On Saturday, WU will battle against Concordia University and host Austin College.