Sato Earns Spot on St. Thomas All-Tournament Team

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

HOUSTON, Texas -- Willamette University libero Shyla Sato (Sr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) has been named to the University of St. Thomas All-Tournament Team for her success in matches on Friday, Sept. 2 and Saturday, Sept. 3.

During the tournament, Sato registered 74 digs in 15 sets for an average of 4.93 digs per set. She earned a high of 24 digs against St. Thomas and provided 23 digs against Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Ind.). She accumulated 18 digs against East Texas Baptist University and was credited with nine digs versus Texas Lutheran University.

Willamette was 0-4 in the tournament. The Bearcats fell to Rose-Hulman by a 3-2 score, dropped a 3-1 decision to St. Thomas, and were defeated by East Texas Baptist and Texas Lutheran 3-0.

Sato, in her fourth season with the Bearcats, has achieved 1,125 career digs. She has played in 58 matches and 215 sets, and has averaged 5.23 digs per set during her career.

The Bearcats will return to action by playing two matches at the Pacific Tournament in Forest Grove, Oregon, on Saturday, Sept. 10. Willamette will take on Austin College (Texas) at 1 p.m. (PDT) and will battle North Park University (Ill.) at 4 p.m. (PDT).