Willamette Sweeps Whitman, 25-20, 25-22, 25-16, as Bearcats Hit 40 Kills

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Willamette University pounded out 40 kills, including 12 kills by Kendall Fox (So., OH, Dupont, WA/Steilacoom HS), as the Bearcats swept past Whitman College in three sets, 25-20, 25-22, 25-16, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Saturday, Sept. 24. The win improved the Bearcats to 4-8 overall, 1-3 in the NWC. Whitman fell to 1-8, 1-3 in the NWC.

Fox led the way on offense and achieved a .259 hitting percentage. Dreux Bertolucci (Jr., OH, Cottonwood, CA/West Valley HS/Shasta College) supplied Willamette with seven kills and nine digs, while Emma Liband (Sr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) connected for five kills and a .273 hitting percentage. Madison Haley (So., MH, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) garnered five total blocks.

Willamette benefited from another quality all-around match from freshman Jaiden Mason (S/OPP, Charlotte, NC/Charlotte Christian School). She accumulated 28 assists, while earning nine digs, three block assists, three kills, and two service aces. Elena Vasquez (Fr., DS/OH, Kingston, WA/North Kitsap HS) led WU with 11 digs. Arianna Khan (Fr., OPP, Yuba, CA/River Valley HS) provided six kills and led the Bearcats with three service aces.

"We had a great match tonight," Willamette Head Coach Tom Shoji said. "Everyone contributed, and it feels good to get our first conference win. If we continue this kind of play, we should get more wins."

While Shoji noted that all 10 Willamette athletes who played made a difference, he singled out a few Bearcats for exceptional play.

"Kendall Fox really played well in all phases of the game," Shoji said. "Emma Liband did a great job in the middle, and so did Madison Haley. They both did a nice job of blocking all along the net. Jaiden Mason set a great match ... the hitters had a lot of good swings."

For Whitman, Megan Henry recorded six kills and three block assists. Brooke Randall produced five kills and five block assists. Elyse Benavides also registered five kills. Codie Conching topped the Blues with 17 digs, while Anna Dawson supplied 22 assists on offense plus four block assists on defense. Lara Temel also finished with four block assists.

Each team achieved a significant number of blocks. The Blues ended the match with 9.0 total blocks, and Willamette was credited with 7.0 total blocks. Whitman earned just 29 kills and a .071 attack percentage, while Willamette's 40 kills led to a .183 hitting percentage.

The Bearcats tallied the first three points of the match on a service ace by Khan, a kill by Jennifer Lane (So., MH/OH, Salinas, CA/Notre Dame HS) and a kill by Vasquez. Willamette extended its lead to 6-1 following back-to-back service aces by Mason. The margin was 10-5 before a 2-0 run by Whitman. Willamette countered with a 4-0 surge on a combo block by Haley and Mason, an ace from Khan, and one kill each by Fox and Mason. WU led 14-7.

Whitman pulled within four points several times later in the set, including 21-17 and 24-20. After the Blues grabbed their 20th point on a kill by Henry, the Bearcats answered with a kill from Haley to end the set.

In the second set, the Bearcats held a 5-2 lead after seven rallies, but Whitman scored five consecutive points to move in front on a service ace by Benavides, 7-5. WU regained the lead three points later at 8-7 on a kill by Khan.

The Bearcats never trailed again during the set, but there were several ties. The score was tied at 11-11 on a combo block by Temel and Henry, and at 12-12 on a kill from Temel. Willamette held a one-point lead at 18-17 before the Bearcats put together a 3-0 run and Whitman replied with four points of its own to create a 21-21 deadlock.

Willamette owned a 23-22 advantage three points later and reached match point on an attacking error by the Blues.  A combo block from Haley and Bertolucci ended the set.

The third set featured eight ties and three lead changes. The final tie was at 11-11 on a kill by Bertolucci to begin a 6-0 run by the Bearcats. WU the lead when Liband pounded down an attack. The run continued with two kills by Khan, a combination block by Liband and Bertolucci, and a hitting error by Whitman. Willamette led 16-11 and claimed a 25-16 win to complete the match.

Up next for the Bearcats is a match against University of Puget Sound on Friday, Sept. 29 at Cone Field House. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. (PDT).