Bearcats Set to Play Linfield in NWC Road Match

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University and Linfield College will continue their rivalry in volleyball this evening, Wednesday, Oct. 15, when they battle in McMinnville, Ore., at 7 p.m. (PDT). Linfield won the first meeting between the two teams this season, taking a 3-1 victory at Cone Field House.

The Bearcats enter the match with a 9-8 overall record, including 4-4 (5th place tie) in the Northwest Conference. Linfield is 6-7 overall, 5-3 (4th place) in the NWC. Willamette can move into a tie with the Wildcats for fourth place with a win tonight.

Willamette's top attacker is Sarah Fincher (Jr., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.). She has recorded 3.39 kills per set and has 200 kills on the season. She owns a .183 hitting percentage. Alexa Dowdell (So., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) has contributed 2.14 kills per set.

Setter Lindsey Compton (Jr., OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford) has provided the Bearcats with 453 assists, for an average of 8.39 assists per set. Peyton Wahl (Fr., LIB/DS, Richland, WA/Richland HS) has achieved a team-leading 254 digs, while averaging 4.16 digs per set. Compton has averaged 2.94 digs per set.

The leading blocker for Willamette is Taylor Gee (Sr., MH/OH, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) with 60 total blocks and 1.05 blocks per set. The Bearcats have averaged 2.01 team total blocks per set this season and trail only Whitman College (2.54) in the NWC blocking statistics. Linfield is eighth in the NWC with 1.30 team total blocks per set.

Three Linfield players are averaging more than two kills per set. Kailana Ritte-Camara (Sr., OH) ranks first on the team with 2.67 kills per set. She has 120 kills this season. MOlly McTaggart (So., RS) has supplied the Wildcats with 2.34 kills per set. Jamie Talbo (Fr., RS/S) has averaged 2.18 kills per set with a .203 hitting percentage.

Courtney Uyeda (LIB/DS) leads Linfield with 225 digs and 4.69 digs per set. Uyeda also tops the offensive chart with 18 service aces (0.389 avg.). Ritte-Camara has earned a solid 3.89 digs per set, while Talbo has registered 3.18 digs per set. Caiti Barrie (Jr., MB) has provided 0.75 blocks per set.

Willamette will play at home on Friday, Oct. 17 against NWC opponent Lewis & Clark College. Match time at Cone Field House is set for 7 p.m. (PDT). After taking on L&C, the Bearcats will play four consecutive road matches before hosting Pacific Lutheran University in the Senior Night match on Friday, Nov. 7.