Whitworth Edges Willamette in First Two Sets, before Winning 3-0 in Volleyball

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Whitworth University slipped past Willamette University by identical margins of 26-24 in the first two sets, before winning the third set, 25-17, as the Pirates defeated the Bearcats, 3-0, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Cone Field House. The Pirates upped their record to 10-3, including 4-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 3-9 on the season, 1-3 in the NWC.

The first set included 14 ties and eight lead changes. Willamette's largest lead of the set was at 12-9 following an attacking error by the Pirates. Whitworth recorded the next three points, and the score remained tied or within a point until the Pirates used a 4-0 run to take a 22-19 lead.

Corrine Bell, Brenna Bruil and Cassandra Mendoza each contributed a kill during the run by Whitworth. Willamette won the next two rallies to get within 22-21, and eventually tied the score at 24-24 on a solo block by Jennifer Lane (Fr., MH/OH, Salinas, CA/Notre Dame HS).

After Lane's block, Kunani Tuttle (Fr., S/OPP, Anahola, HI/Kappa HS) served for Willamette. Her serve went barely long at the back of the Whitworth defense, giving the Pirates a 25-24 advantage. Whitworth won the set when the Bearcats committed an attacking error after a serve by Bruil.

Willamette rallied from an 18-15 deficit to tie the second set at 20-20 on a kill by Lauren Stiles (Fr., OH, Altadena, CA/Flintridge Preparatory School). The teams were tied again two points later, before a kill by Bell and a WU attacking error put Whitworth in front, 23-21.

A kill by Alexa Dowdell (Sr., OH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) and a solo block by Emma Liband (Jr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) tied the set for the Bearcats. Whitworth moved in front on a kill by Mendoza, but the Bearcats tied the score at 24-24 on an attacking error by the Pirates.

Bruil broke the tie with a kill for Whitworth. Another kill, this time by Emiko Kahler, ended the set.

Whitworth surged out to a 12-3 lead in the third set. The Bearcats gradually battled back to within 19-15 on a service ace by Dowdell that completed a 9-2 run. WU scored on two of the next three rallies to cut the margin to 20-17. The Pirates ended the set with a 5-0 run.

Kahler topped Whitworth with 12 kills. Bruil added 11 kills and a .421 hitting percentage. Mendoza recorded eight kills. Tayor Wicht led the Pirates with 14 digs, while Erin White provided 36 assists.

Dowdell achieved 12 kills and hit .294 for Willamette. She also earned eight digs and four block assists.

Liband produced seven kills and four total blocks for the Bearcats. Kaylen Higa (So., LIB/DS, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) contributed a match-high 21 digs. Tynan Gable (Jr., S, Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS) amassed 19 assists to go with 12 digs.

The Pirates hit .167 as a team, while Willamette hit .119. Willamette registered 9.0 team total blocks, while the Pirates earned 7.0 blocks. Whitworth finished with a 45-31 lead in kills. The Bearcats claimed a 55-52 edge in digs.

Willamette will play at George Fox University on Friday, Sept. 30. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT).