Volleyball takes first set 25-15 but falls to Puget Sound in tight match

Salem, OR - Willamette Volleyball won the first set and battled back in two others, but eventually fell in four sets to the University of Puget Sound, 15-25, 25-23, 25-9, 26-24. 

The Bearcats started well, winning the first point of the match on a kill by Nora Wade and pulling ahead to a 10-5 lead on a kill by Katey Cramer.  The Loggers got a couple of points back after a timeout, but Willamette won 9 of the next 11 points to take a commanding 19-9 lead.  The Bearcats closed out the first set on consecutive kills by Caroline Jameson and Cramer to win the opening set 25-15.

The second set didn't start quite as well for Willamette, but they staged a furious comeback.  Puget Sound won the first three points of the set and eventually pulled ahead to a 17-6 lead before the Bearcats started their charge.  Olivia Cadien had three kills in a run of eight straight points for Willamette to cut the Logger lead to 17-14.  Consecutive service aces pulled Willamette within one point at 24-23, but a kill by Erin Fagan closed out the second set in favor of Puget Sound.

The third set was all Loggers as they pulled out to leads of 7-1, 15-2, and 18-3, before winning by a score of 25-9.  

Puget Sound kept their momentum into set four as they jumped out to a 14-7 lead on the Bearcats and extended that lead to 22-12 on a kill by Mackenzie Leith.  Like they did in the second set, Willamette kept battling and consecutive kills by Katey Cramer and three service aces in a row by Alayna Hughes pulled the Bearcats within three at 23-20.  Willamette eventually tied the match at 24 off a kill by Cadien, another by Nora Wade, and a service ace by Kramer.  The comeback stopped there, however, as the Loggers won the final two points, the fourth set, and the match with a score of 26-24.

Cadien led Willamette in kills with 14, followed by Cramer with 11 and Wade with 9.  Leina Chu had 40 assists for the Bearcats.  Dream Takemoto led in digs with 13, followed closely by Alayna Hughes with 12. 

Volleyball's next match will be on Saturday, October 26th at George Fox University, at 6:00 pm.  The Bearcats return home the following weekend to host Whitman College on Friday, November 1st, and Whitworth University on Saturday, November 2nd.