Fincher Ready for Junior Season as Key Player for Bearcats

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

SALEM, ORE. Willamette University outside hitter Sarah Fincher (Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS) from the Bearcat volleyball team, who transferred from Southwest Baptist University (Mo.) a year ago, had an outstanding 2013 season and is the teams top returning player.

I think Sarah will play a big role in our offense this season, Head Coach Tom Shoji said.

Last year, Fincher started all 25 matches and played in 97 of 99 sets. She achieved 334 kills for an average of 3.44 kills per set. She earned a .217 hitting percentage and recorded 228 digs (2.35 avg.). She was named First Team All-Northwest Conference.

Finchers efforts helped the Bearcats win six of their final seven matches last season to surge into fourth place in the NWC with an 8-8 record. The Bearcats ended the year at 12-13 overall for Willamettes most wins since going 19-6 in 2004.

In 2013, Fincher earned 10 or more kills 20 times, including each of the last 12 matches. She registered a career-high 21 kills against Whitman College on Sept. 21 and against George Fox University in the season finale on Nov. 9. She earned a season-high 18 digs against Pacific University on Oct. 4.

We just want her to be consistent in what she does, Shoji said. We will need other players to help with the offensive load. Other conference teams will definitely try to stop Sarah, which will put added pressure on her, and that why we need other hitter to step up.

Its likely that Fincher will spend more time on the back row to keep her offensive threat and leadership on the court.

Sarah will need to improve on her back row skills, passing and defense, because we dont want her off the court, Shoji commented. She provides leadership as well as the ability to attack from the back row. Her enthusiasm is something that is needed at all times.

We have a lot of questions we need answered during the preseason, but Sarahs not one of them, Shoji noted. We expect her to start and play a major role in our success.