Leenstra and Reed Combine for 37 Kills, as Bearcats Down Pioneers, 3-1

By John Lind, Student Assistant, Athletics Communications

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University had three players record double-digit kills Saturday night as the defeated Lewis & Clark 3-1 in a Northwest Conference women's volleyball matchup. With the win, the Bearcats move to 8-15 (5-9 NWC). The Pioneers drop to 13-11 (9-5 NWC).

Madisyn Leenstra (Jr., MH/OH, Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) and Danica Reed (Jr., OH, Arvada, CO/Ralston Valley HS) combined for 37 of Willamette's 58 kills. Leenstra notched 19 kills and Reed added 18. Shannon Waltz (So., MH, Honolulu, HI/La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls) was the third Bearcat with double digit kills, earning 10 along with team high eight block assists.

Willamette earned a team hitting percentage of .200 to Lewis & Clark's .108. The Bearcats were most impressive in the third and fourth sets, recording team hitting percentages of .312 in the third and .311 in the fourth.

Emily Compton (So., S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Boise State Univ.) led the Bearcats with 51 assists on the night. Compton's assist count was the highest for Willamette this season and only four assists shy of her career high of 55. Kathy Lee Glenn (Jr., LIB/DS, Murrieta, CA/Vista Murrieta HS) earned 22 digs.

Lewis & Clark recorded 45 team kills and was led by Kataleya Milan, who earned 15 kills individually. Leia Matsunaga notched 36 assists for the Pioneers.

Willamette came out strong in the first set, recording 18 kills to Lewis & Clarks eight. Reed was especially impressive, earning seven kills, six digs, and hitting .250 for the set. The teams traded leads up until a 17-17 tie. The Bearcats then utilized three consecutive kills from Reed and a kill from Waltz to go up 21-17. Willamette didnt look back, taking the set 25-22.

Lewis & Clark bounced back in the second set. The Pioneers and Bearcats fought through five lead changes in the set to a 21-21 tie. Lewis & Clark then went on a 4-0 run of its own with two kills and two Willamette attack errors to close out the set 25-21.

Willamette jumped ahead early in the third set to gain a big lead and eventually win. Down 3-5, the Bearcats went on a 17-2 run that put them ahead 20-7. During the run, Reed and Waltz each earned three kills. The Pioneers battled back to make the score 24-16, but Reed closed out the set with another kill.

The game-clinching fourth set would prove to be the most intense of the match. Willamette led through much of the set, but the Pioneers kept on their heels, never trailing by more than four points. With the Bearcats up 24-22 on match point, Lewis & Clark battled back with a Brigitte Russo kill and a called bad set by Glenn.

However, Willamette would prevail. Compton and Waltz teamed for a block on Russo during the next play to go up 25-24. With the match on the line, Russos kill attempt sailed just past the end line, giving the Bearcats the victory.

Willamette will conclude its season next weekend with matches at Pacific University on Friday, Nov. 4 and at home against the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Nov. 5.