Women's Volleyball splits at the Oregon Trail Classic

SALEM, Ore. — Willamette University hosted the Oregon Trail Classic, starting with a strong performance against Pacific Union, sweeping them in straight sets, 25-18, 25-17, 25-16, on Friday at Cone Field House. The Bearcats showcased their serving skills with 11 aces, which contributed significantly to their commanding victory. A delay of game warning against Pacific Union in the second set at 19-12 illustrated Willamette's dominance throughout the match.

Dream Takemoto anchored the defense with 15 digs while adding an ace on the serve. Lexie Scott led the attack with 11 kills on 25 attempts, posting a hitting percentage of .360 and contributing two blocks. Leina Chu facilitated the offense with 27 assists and recorded a .500 hitting percentage with two kills. Alayna Hughes added pressure from the service line with four aces, complementing her eight digs. The Bearcats concluded this match with an overall record of 1-3.

However, in their next match of the Oregon Trail Classic, California Lutheran University edged past Willamette in a tense four-set battle, winning 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 27-25. The teams were evenly matched in defense, both recording 71 digs, but Cal Lutheran's more efficient attack percentage at .201 compared to Willamette's .143 proved decisive. The Bearcats again tallied 11 service aces throughout the match, but it was not enough to overcome Cal Lutheran's resilience in the final two sets.

Caroline Jameson led the team with 15 kills, contributing a total of 15 points across four matches. Leina Chu facilitated the offense with 39 assists, orchestrating the team's playmaking efforts. Chelsea Velez bolstered the defense with 16 digs while also adding 15 points and three service aces. Tai Sorenson was effective from the service line, recording four aces and contributing 10 digs to the defensive effort. After this match, the Bearcats hold a 2-4 overall record in the current season, while Cal Lutheran improves to 3-1.

Looking ahead, the Bearcats will travel to Portland, OR, to face Schreiner University on September 6.