Bearcats Outlast Whitworth in Five-Set Thriller

SALEM, Ore. — Willamette edged past Whitworth University in a thrilling five-set match on Tuesday at Cone Field House, 23-25, 25-13, 21-25, 25-21, 15-11. The Bearcats recorded 73 kills and 12 service aces, leading to their victory. Whitworth managed 50 kills and 4 aces in the competitive matchup.

Alayna Hughes led the serving efforts with six aces over five games. Caroline Jameson contributed significantly to the attack, recording 18 kills with a hitting percentage of .342. Katey Cramer added strength to the team with 20 kills and a total of 22 points. Leina Chu facilitated the offense with 61 assists, orchestrating the plays across the court.

Willamette holds an 8-9 overall record and is 6-4 in Northwest Conference play. Whitworth has a 13-6 overall record and stands at 7-2 in the Northwest Conference.

Looking ahead, the Bearcats will host Whitman College on Saturday. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m. in Salem, OR.