Mason Earns Double-Double, Vasquez Registers 28 Digs, in 3-0 Win at Pacific

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Jaiden Mason (Fr., S/OPP, Charlotte, NC/Charlotte Christian School) registered a double-double with 11 kills and 13 assists, and just missed a triple-double, to lead Willamette University to a 3-0 victory over Pacific University on Saturday, Oct. 14 at the Stoller Center. Willamette libero Elena Vasquez (Fr., Kingston, WA/North Kitsap HS) added a career-high 28 digs, as the Bearcats prevailed, 25-19, 25-21, 25-22.

The win and a 3-1 triumph over Linfield College on Friday improved Willamette to 7-11 on the season, 4-6 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific dropped to 13-5 on the season, 5-4 in the NWC.

Mason missed earning a triple-double by the slimmest of margins. In addition to her double-digit totals for kills and assists, she also finished the match with nine digs. She contributed three block assists, helping the Bearcats accumulate 8.0 team total blocks. Morgan Webster (Jr., S/DS, Milwaukie, OR/Milwaukie HS) led WU with 21 assists.

The previous career record for digs by Vasquez was 27 against University of Puget Sound on Sept. 29. Her 28 against Pacific led Willamette's defense. Mason's nine digs were followed by eight digs from Arianna Khan (Fr., OPP, Yuba, CA/River Valley HS).

Khan also provided 10 kills, as she joined Mason in double figures. Khan hit .281 for the match on 32 attacks with only one attacking error. Mason finished with a .233 hitting percentage. Kendall Fox (So., OH, Dupont, WA/Steilacoom HS) connected for nine kills and hit .280.

Madison Haley (So., MH, Truckee, CA/Tahoe Truckee HS) topped WU by hitting .462. She achieved seven kills and had only one attacking error on 13 total attacks. In addition, Madison led the Bearcats with four block assists.

Willamette's attack pounded its way to a .233 team hitting percentage, while Pacific hit just .169. The Bearcats gained a slim 44-43 edge in kills, while limiting the Boxers to 3.0 team total blocks.

"We had a great team effort again tonight," Willamette Head Coach Tom Shoji said. "We passed very well and had steady hitting from Mason, Kahn and Fox. Vasquez was really good again at the libero position. Getting two wins in a row is nice."

Pacific's top hitter was Milana Ivkovic with a match-high 12 kills and a .478 hitting percentage. Morgan Mendicino added 10 kills. Anna VandrWeyste was credited with a match-high 30 digs, while Parker Ellie supplied 35 assists and eight digs.

The Bearcats owned a 7-6 lead in the first set before going on a 7-1 run for a 14-7 margin. A kill by Haley and two by Fox completed the run. A bit later, Pacific pulled within three points at 15-12 and 18-5. Willamette answered with a kill from Dreux Bertolucci (Jr., OH, Cottonwood, CA/West Valley HS/Shasta College) and a combo block by Bertolucci and Emma Liband (Sr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) for a 209-15 edge. WU won the set, 25-19.

Pacific surged in front 7-3 at the start of the second set. The Boxers also led 10-5 following a kill by Karlee Duncan. The lead eventually reached six points at 16-10 on a kill from Jordan Zweifel. Willamette rallied and tied the score at 19-19 on a service ace by Liband to finish a 5-0 run.

The Boxers moved in front 20-19 when Nanea Lum pounded down a kill, but the Bearcats responded with another 5-0 run to move back in front, 24-20. The run began with a kill from Fox and also included a kill by Mason. Mendicino recorded a kill to keep Pacific in the set. Mason countered with a kill for Willamette to end the set at 25-21.

In the third set, WU broke an 8-8 tie with a combo block from Haley and Khan. The Bearcats used the block to open a 5-0 surge for a 13-8 lead. Willamette held of the Boxers the rest of the way, although the Boxers got as two points on five occasions. Each time the Bearcats scored the next point. Four of the two-point leads were between 14-12 and 18-16. WU then ran off three straight points for a 21-16 advantage, and also led 24-20. After Pacific tallied three points in a row to get with 24-22, Liband provided a solo block for the Bearcats to end the set and the match.

Willamette will play Whitman College at Cone Field House on Friday, Oct. 20. Match time is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).