Chu with 25 assists and 10 digs as Volleyball downs Linfield 3-0

Salem, OR - Volleyball won their third straight match downing Linfield University 3-0 in front of a spirited home crowd at Cone Fieldhouse.  The Bearcats came back to win the first set 25-23 and followed that up with decisive wins of 25-14 and 25-17 in sets two and three.

Linfield got off to a strong start in the first set taking a 5-2 lead before Willamette would win five straight points to lead 7-5.  The Wildcats then rattled off four straight points of their own and eventually took their largest lead of the set at 21-17.  A service error by Linfield and a kill by Caroline Jameson pulled Willamette closer and the Bearcats used a series of blocks down the stretch to pull out the 25-23 win.

The second set started with the teams trading points until they were tied at eleven.  Eight straight points on Olivia Cadien's serve would give Willamette a 19-11 lead and they would close out the second set 25-14 on a kill by Nora Wade.

It was the Bearcats turn for a strong start in the third set as they took a 4-0 early lead, but the Wildcats would fight back to a tie at seven.  Consecutive services aces by Alayna Hughes would give Willamette an 11-7 lead they wouldn't relinquish.  The Wildcats would get as close as two points, but the Bearcats would pull away and Sydney Locke would finish the set and the match with a kill.

Olivia Cadien let the Bearcats in kills for the match with 10, followed by Nora Wade and Katey Cramer with 5 each.  Dream Takemoto provided 21 digs and Leina Chu contributed 25 assists for the match.  Kaitlyn Westby had a big defensive night at the net with six blocks.

Willamette's next match is Tuesday, October 15th, at Lewis & Clark College.  The Bearcats return home next weekend to face Pacific Lutheran on Friday, October 18th, and the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, October 19th.  Both matches are scheduled for 7:00 pm.