2009-10 Women's Volleyball News
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University volleyball player Jessie McGraw (Sr., OH, Gaston, OR/Yamhill Carlton HS/Corban College) has been selected for the 2009-10 All-Northwest Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team. One female athlete and one male athlete from each NWC member college or university was chosen for the award.
SALEM, ORE. -- Brigit Miller (Fr., Olympia, WA/Olympia HS), a setter on the Willamette University volleyball team, was named the Freshman of the Year by the Willamette Chemistry Department.
SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University volleyball team has announced its incoming freshmen for the upcoming 2010 season. Seven new players will join the Bearcat roster.
SALEM, ORE. -- Four former Willamette University volleyball players have the distinguished honor of being the winningest Bearcats in the history of Willamette Athletics. The four players, Dana Newsom, Emily Moore, Brandi Row and Sarah Pitcher, accumulated 136 wins from 1992-1995.
SALEM, ORE. -- After completing their most successful season since 2004, three members of the Willamette University volleyball team have been recognized by the Northwest Conference for their efforts. Senior Jessie McGraw (OH, Gaston, OR/Corban College) was chosen Second Team All-NWC. Molly Blankenship (Jr., OH, Spokane, WA/Spokane Falls CC) and Julie Stutzman (Sr., MH, Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) were named Honorable Mention All-NWC.
SALEM, ORE. -- Senior outside hitter Jessie McGraw (Gaston, OR/Yamhill-Carlton HS/Corban College) pounded out 14 kills, earned 15 digs and recorded three block assists in her final collegiate game, leading Willamette University to a 3-0 sweep of George Fox University on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Sparks Center. The Bearcats downed the Bruins, 25-18, 25-23, 25-18.
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University battled 15th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University throughout a five-set match at Cone Field House on Friday, Nov. 6. The Bearcats held a 2-1 lead after two sets, but the Lutes rallied to remain undefeated in Northwest Conference play with a 19-25, 25-14, 20-25, 25-23, 15-9 victory.
PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University received 15 kills apiece from outside hitters Molly Blankenship (Jr., Priest River, ID/Lamanna HS/Spokane Falls CC) and Jessie McGraw (Sr., Gaston, OR/Yamhill-Carlton HS/Corban College), as the Bearcats overcame a slow start to defeat Lewis & Clark College, 3-2, in Northwest Conference action on Friday, Oct. 30. Willamette won the match, 11-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-25, 15-11.
SALEM, ORE. -- Led by senior outside hitter Jessie McGraw (Gaston, OR/Yamhill-Carlton HS/Corban College), the Willamette University volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat visiting Linfield College, 3-2, in a Northwest Conference match at Cone Field House on Wednesday, Oct. 28. McGraw registered 18 kills, earned a .357 hitting percentage and registered 27 digs, as Willamette rallied for 25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-13 victory.
SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University volleyball team defeated the visiting Pacific University Boxers in straight sets, 25-13, 25-17, 25-16 on Saturday, Oct. 24. Willamette climbs to 8-12 overall and 5-7 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific drops to 7-13 overall and 2-10 in the NWC.
TACOMA, WASH. -- The Willamette University women's volleyball team was defeated by host University of Puget Sound, 3-0, on Friday, Oct. 23. Puget Sound won in straight sets, 25-21, 25-21, and 25-19. Willamette dropped to 7-12 on the season, including 4-7 in the Northwest Conference. Puget Sound, ranked #21 in NCAA Division III, moved to 14-6 overall and 8-4 in the NWC.
SALEM, ORE. -- Outside hitter Molly Blankenship (Priest River, ID/Lamanna HS/Spokane Falls CC) of Willamette University has been selected as the Northwest Conference Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week for her contributions to a pair of victories during the week ending Sunday, Oct. 18. Blankenship led the Bearcats to a 3-0 win over Whitworth University on Friday and a 3-1 triumph over Whitman on Saturday.
SALEM, ORE. -- Junior outside hitter Molly Blankenship (Priest River, ID/Lamanna HS/Spokane Falls CC) achieved a match-high 22 kills to lead Willamette University to a 3-1 victory over Whitman College in Northwest Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Bearcats trailed after the first set, but won the next three sets to take the match, 23-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20.
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University won in straight sets over visiting Whitworth University on Friday, Oct. 16. The Bearcats defeated the Pirates 25-20, 25-17, 27-25. The Bearcats moved to 6-11 overall and to 3-6 in the Northwest Conference. The visiting Pirates fell to 7-13 overall, 3-6 in the NWC.
TACOMA, WASH. -- Willamette University put up a strong battle against 17th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, Oct. 10, but the Lutes were able to fend off the Bearcats for a 25-22, 25-22, 25-17 victory in Northwest Conference play at Olson Auditorium. PLU upped its record to 12-5 overall, 8-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 5-11 overall, 2-6 in the NWC.
NEWBERG, ORE. -- Willamette University dropped the first two sets to George Fox on Friday evening, Oct. 9. The Bearcats fought their way back to even the match at 2-2 before the Bruins eventually won, 25-15, 28-26, 18-25, 22-25 and 15-11. The Bearcats moved to 5-10 overall, 2-5 in the Northwest Conference. The Bruins climbed to 12-3 overall, 5-2 in the NWC.