Bearcats to Play at Puget Sound and George Fox in NWC Action

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University will play two Northwest Conference volleyball matches on the road this weekend, as the Bearcats are set to take on University of Puget Sound on Friday, Oct. 24 before facing George Fox University on Saturday, Oct. 25. Both matches will start at 7 p.m. (PDT).

During Friday's match, Live Video and Live Stats will be provided by Puget Sound. On Saturday, Live Video and Live Stats will be available through George Fox.

The Bearcats, 10-5 overall, 5-5 in the NWC, will be looking to use the strengths of junior outside hitter Sarah Fincher (Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.). Fincher leads Willamette with 217 kills and 3.34 kills per set. She ranks second in the NWC in kills per set and is fifth in total kills. She has averaged 2.25 digs and 0.57 blocks per set.

Fincher is one of four Bearcats who have played in all 19 sets. The others are Alexa Dowdell (So., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS), Taylor Gee (Sr., MH/OH, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) and Peyton Wahl (Fr., LIB/DS, Richland, WA/Richland HS).

Dowdell is second on the team with 135 kills and 2.14 kills per set. She has recorded 2.37 digs per set. Gee top the Bearcats and ranks third in the NWC with 1.14 blocks per set on 72 total blocks in 63 sets. Wahl is first on the squad with 4.01 digs per set as the team's starting libero.

Puget Sound is 8-11 overall and 7-3 in the Northwest Conference. The Loggers have a trio of top attackers.

Shawna Smith (Jr., OH) leads the team with 151 kills and is third with 1.99 kills per set. Nicolette Reynaud (Sr., MB) is first with 2.23 kills per set after earning 136 kills in 61 sets. Emily Convery (Jr., MB) ranks second in both categories with 144 kills and 2.09 kills per set. Convery is sixth in the NWC with a .233 hitting percentage.

The Loggers's offense is run by freshman setter Moira McVicar, who has earned 8.03 assists per set this season. Rachael Garrison (So.), the team's libero, has contributed 4.20 digs per set with 332 digs in 79 sets. Kristen Lane (So., MB) leads Puget Sound with 23 service aces.

George Fox enters the weekend with a 3-17 overall record and a 2-8 mark in the NWC. Erin Campbell (Sr., OH) ranks first for the Bruins with 196 kills and 2.76 kills per set. Kylee Adderson has tacked on 162 kills and 2.26 kills per set, while achieving a solid .210 hitting percentage that ranks eighth in the NWC. Tiffany Burks adds 2.12 kills per set.

Overall, five GFU players have averaged more than 1.80 kills per set, allowing the Bruins to record 10.04 kills per set as a team. The Bruins, however, have allowed opponents an average of 12.71 kills per set.

Payton Shrum (Jr., S) has supplied 8.68 assists per set, with 868 assists in 72 sets. She has played in all but three of GFU's 75 sets this year. Kelsea Meyers (So., LIB/DS) tops the squad with 3.71 digs per set, while Adderson leads the team with 23 service aces.