Cadien Pounds 11 Kills, Bearcats Hit .244, as Willamette Defeats Pacific, 3-0

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Olivia Cadien (Fy., OH, Mesa, AZ/Chandler Preparatory Academy) registered 11 kills and Willamette University earned a .244 team hitting percentage, as the Bearcats rolled past Pacific University, 3-0, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Friday, Oct. 8 at Cone Field House. The Bearcats won 25-15, 25-23, 25-14 in front of 335 fans, many dressed in purple to show their support for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Willamette evened its record at 6-6 on the season, including 3-4 in the NWC. Pacific dropped to 4-8 overall, 3-4 in the NWC.

The Bearcats accumulated 43 kills in the match, while Pacific finished with 32 kills. In addition to Cadien's 11 kills, Willamette received nine kills from Dani Queja (Jr., OH, Ewa Beach, HI/Maryknoll School). Ana James (Jr., OPP, Imperial Beach, CA/Mar Vista HS) tacked on seven kills, no attacking errors, and a .412 hitting percentage. Lexi Martin (Jr., MH, Bellevue, WA/Interlake HS) and Kaitlyn Westby (Fy., MH, Redmond, WA/Eastside Catholic HS) each added five kills. The Bearcats played without Natalie Klotz (Sr., OH, Bonner Springs, KS/Bonner Springs HS) due to an injury.

WU setter Emma Porter (Jr., S, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) supplied 35 assists and eight digs. Shyla Sato (Jr., LIB, Honolulu, HI/MId-Pacific Institute) recorded 18 digs, while Queja provided 5 digs and Steele Jasa (Jr., S/LIB, Bend, OR/Summit HS) achieved 10. The Bearcats scored on six service aces, including two each by Porter and Sato.

"Tonight was a much-needed team effort" Willamette Head Volleyball Coach Lily Hallock said. "After Natalie sustained a knee injury in our last match, it was important that everyone step up and contribute, and they did just that. We had a solid match plan from scouting Pacific, and the team did a good job executing it and making in-match adjustments. We are at our best when we are playing with our joy for the game and love for each other. That was on display tonight."

Claire Stipsits topped the Boxers with 10 kills and added 11 digs. Elika Until attained eight kills and Mara Murphy produced seven kills. Haley Walz of Pacific led all players with 20 digs. Shaianne Cambra amassed 22 assists.

The Bearcats trailed 2-1 after three rallies in the opening set, but went on a 4-0 run to move in front 5-2 and stayed ahead for the remainder of the set. Willamette led 12-7 following a kill by Martin. Pacific scored next on a kill by Stipsits, before the Bearcats put together a 6-0 run for an 18-8 advantage. The scoring run included one kill each by Porter, Cadien, and James. WU went on to win the set, 25-15.

Pacific built leads of 11-8, 15-11, and 17-12 in the second set, but the Bearcats rallied for a 25-23 victory. Willamette pulled within 18-16 on a kill by Queja, and cut the margin to a single point when James and Martin produced a block on the next rally. One rally later, WU trailed 19-17 before earning five consecutive points on a kill by James, a kill from Queja, two kills by Martin, and an attacking error by the Boxers for a 22-19 lead. The score was tied at 23-23 before the Bearcats closed out the set with an attacking error by Pacific and a kill by Cadien.

Willamette took early control of the third set with a 5-0 start as the Bearcats surged out to an 8-1 lead. The run featured a service ace by Sato and ended with back-to-back service aces by Porter. The run also included one kill each by Porter, Cadien, and Westby. The Bearcats eventually led 10-3 on a kill by Queja and owned a 17-6 advantage after Sato earned her second ace of the set. Pacific pulled within seven points at 17-10 on a kill by Allie Hertager and at 19-12 on a serving error by Willamette, but couldn't get closer. Kaiona Apio (So., OH, Edmonds, WA/Edmonds-Woodway HS) added WU's fifth service ace of the set two points later for a 21-12 advantage. The Bearcats won the set, 25-14.

Up next for the Bearcats is a Northwest Conference match at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, on Saturday, Oct. 9. The action is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. (PDT).