Mason Pounds Out 12 Kills, as Bearcats Roll Past Olivet, 3-0, at Oregon Trail Classic

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Freshman Jaiden Mason (S/OPP, Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Christian School) led the attack with 12 kills, and provided additional strength as a setter, server and defensive player, as Willamette University swept Olivet College (Mich.), 3-0, at Pacific University, as part of the Oregon Trail Classic on Saturday, Sept. 2. Mason achieved a .455 hitting percentage to go along with 15 assists, three service aces, three digs and a block assist. The Bearcats hit .308 as a team with 35 kills, and limited Olivet to a negative .020 hitting percentage with 26 kills and 28 errors.

The Bearcats prevailed 25-13, 25-14, 25-18. Willamette improved to 1-2 on the season. Olivet dropped to 0-3. Both teams compete in NCAA Division III.

Kendall Fox (So., OH, Dupont, WA/Steilacoom HS) added six kills, seven digs and two block assists for the Bearcats. Three Willamette players -- Jennifer Lane (So., MH/OH, Salinas, CA/Notre Dame HS), Lauren Stiles (So., OH, Altadena, CA/Flintridge Preparatory School) and Emma Liband (Sr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) -- each contributed five kills. Liband recorded a match-high eight total blocks with three block solos and five block assists.

Courtney Cronkright paced Olivet with eight kills and also registered eight digs. Madelyn Notenbaum provided 15 assists, while Mia Parker led the Comets with nine digs. Audrey Lama earned five kills.

WU controlled most of the match, as there were only three ties and two lead changes. The Bearcats had to rally form a five-point deficit in the third set, but used a .364 hitting percentage during that set to complete the sweep.

The match opened with Willamette zooming out to a 7-3 lead. After Lama registered a kill for Olivet to cut the lead to three points, the Bearcats went on a 7-0 run to take a 14-4 advantage. Mason opened the run with a kill, then added a service ace. The offensive surge also included kills from Liband and Fox, plus three attacking errors by Olivet. WU remained in front by at least seven points on their way to a 25-13 win. The Comets committed 11 attacking errors during the set.

Olivet stayed close for most of the second set, with Willamette holding slim leads at 8-7 and 10-8. The Bearcats won the next five rallies, ending with a service ace by Fox and a kill by Lane. Laken Groll followed stopped the run with a kill for Olivet, but WU closed out the set with a 10-5 run.

The Comets led 6-0 in the third set and took an 8-1 lead on a solo block from Brittney Prince. A bit later, Olivet was in front 17-12 after a kill by Parker. Willmaette stormed from behind by scoring eight consecutive points, including kills by Mason, Fox and Liband, plus two service aces by Mason. A serving error pulled the Comets within 20-18, but the Bearcats finished the set by claiming five points in a row.

Willamette will play its home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 5 against Multnomah University (Ore.). Match time at Cone Field House is set for 6 p.m. (PDT).