Loggers Defeat Bearcats, 3-0

By Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6219

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.

Willamette battled and kept the score close throughout all three sets. The Bearcats led in the first set, 14-13, before eventually falling to the Loggers. 25-21. Junior outside hitter Molly Blankenship (Priest River, ID/Lamanna HS/Spokane Falls CC) served well for WU during the first set.

In the second set, Blankenship continued to serve well for the Bearcats. Senior Jessie McGraw (OH/OPP, Gaston, OR/Yamhill-Carlton HS/Corban College) recorded four kills during the set. Willamette trailed by eight points, 21-13, before mounting a rally to pull within 21-19. Eventually, WU fell 25-21.

In the final set, the Bearcats and Loggers were tied at 18-18 before Puget Sound broke away. The Loggers scored eight of the last nine points to win the set and the match.

For the match, Willamette hit .110 compared to Puget Sound's .198. Jaci Abeloe (Fr., OH, Medford, OR/North Medford HS) hit well for Willamette, recording nine kills and just one attacking error on sixteen attempts for a .500 hitting percentage. McGraw and Julie Stutzman (Sr., MH, Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) each finished with six kills. Brigit Miller (Fr., S, Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) tallied 28 assists for the Bearcats.

Blankenship earned 13 digs for WU, while Kellie Menghini (So., LIB, Anchorage, AK/South Anchorage HS) contributed 12. Leigh Sumida of Puget Sound led all players with 19 digs during the match.

Stephanie Harvey provided 27 assists for the Loggers. Bre Boyce and Kalli Kamphaus each had nine kills. The Loggers hit .257 in the final set.

Willamette will play at home against Pacific University on Saturday, Oct. 24. Game time is set for 7 p.m. (PDT) in Cone Field House.