Dowdell Earns Career-High 22 Kills, but Lutes Defeat Bearcats, 3-2

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

PARKLAND, Wash. -- Alexa Dowdell (Sr., OH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) of Willamette University registered a career-high 22 kills, but the Bearcats fell to Pacific Lutheran University in a five-set thriller, 3-2, on Friday, Sept. 16 at Olson Gymnasium. The Lutes won the match, 24-26, 25-13, 25-16, 24-26, 15-9.

Pacific Lutheran improved to 3-6 on the season, 1-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette dropped to 3-7 overall, 1-1 in the NWC.

Dowdell surpassed her previous career high for kills (19), which she set against Whitman College on Nov. 7, 2015. With 22 against the Lutes, she now has 572 kills in her Willamette career.

In addition, Dowdell set a career high with 25 digs on Friday. Her previous high was 21 digs versus Whitworth University on Nov. 6, 2015. Kaylen Higa (So., LIB/DS, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) tacked on a career-high 30 digs for the Bearcats against the Lutes.

While Dowdell produced 22 kills and hit .243, no other Bearcat player reached double digits. Jennifer Lane (Fr., MH/OH, Salinas, CA/Notre Dame HS) earned eight kills and 16 digs for the Bearcats.

Pacific Lutheran had five athletes achieve double-figures kills. Danielle Skibiel led the way with 15 kills, while Mackenzie Harris provided 13. Gabrielle Alley contributed 12, Chloe Epker earned 11 and Roshel Donwen finished with 10. The Lutes gained a 71-52 advantage in team kills, hit .219 as a team, and limited the Bearcats to a .150 hitting percentage.

Even so, Willamette forced a fifth set by winning the first and fourth sets by 26-24 margins. The fifth set featured nine ties and three lead changes before PLU prevailed.

Willamette held a 2-1 lead after three points in the decisive set, but the Lutes countered to take a 6-3 advantage. The Bearcats responded with four consecutive points -- all on kills -- to surge in front, 7-6. Lane earned the first kill and then Taylor Lum (Sr., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS) pounded down the next score. Lane tacked on another kill, and Dowdell completed the run.

The Bearcats also led 8-7 and were tied at 9-9, but the Lutes closed out the match with six consecutive points. After taking a 13-9 lead, PLU completed the set with a kill by Alley followed by a kill from Isabella Zubrod.

PLU led 8-4 in the first set and later held an 18-13 advantage after a kill by Epker. Willamettte rallied to within 19-17 on a service error by Skibiel and to within 21-19 on a kill by Dowdell. The Lutes scored three of the next four points to claim a 24-20 advantage on a kill by Alley.

The Bearcats surged past the Lutes with a series of six unanswered points for a 26-24 win. Lane broke a 24-24 tie with a service ace and Emma Liband (Jr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) finished the set with a kill.

In the second set, the teams were tied at 7-7. The Lutes went on an 8-3 run for a 15-10 edge after a kill by Skilbiel, and the Lutes eventually owned a 19-11 advantage on their way to a 25-13 win.

Pacific Lutheran zoomed out to an 11-4 lead in the third set. The Lutes also led 19-9 and took the set, 25-16.

Willamette and PLU were tied an impressive 15 times in the fourth set, which also included seven lead changes. With the score tied at 20-20, the Bearcats slipped into the lead on a kill by Lane and a kill from Lum. The Lutes scored four points in a row, ending with a kill by Donwen, to gain a 24-22 advantage.

The next four points went to Willamette, starting with a service error by the Lutes. Lane provided a service ace to tie the set. An attacking error by Donwen put WU in front, 25-24, and Dowdell ended the set with a kill.

Kunani Tuttle (Fr., S/OPP, Anahola, HI/Kappa HS) finished with 22 assists for Willamette, while Tynan Gable (Jr., S, Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS) added 18 assists.

PLU received a match-high 39 digs from Caylie Shiramizu. Madi Collier recorded 27 assists for the Lutes.

Willamette will host Whitman College at Cone Field House on Friday, Sept. 23. Match time is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).