No. 7 Linfield Downs Willamette in Women’s Volleyball

The next match for the Bearcats is Saturday at Lewis & Clark College.

Photo: Linfield College

SALEM - Linfield College, ranked #7 in the CSTV/AVCA Poll for NCAA Division III, achieved a .308 team hitting percentage, as the Wildcats swept Willamette University, 30-19, 30-16, 30-22, in a Northwest Conference match on Wednesday at Cone Field House.

Lauren Kreiger recorded 15 kills, 12 digs and four block assists to the lead the Wildcats, who extended their school record start to 12-0 overall, including 5-0 in the NWC. Willamette, which has lost seven consecutive matches, fell to 3-11 overall, 0-5 in the NWC.

Linfield led 5-0 to open the first game, with Chelsey Gellatly serving all five points. The Bearcats cut the lead to 6-5, but the Wildcats answered with a 8-1 run for a 14-6 advantage. Willamette never got closer than five points the rest of the game.

In the second game, Willamette scored the first point, but Linfield won the next six rallies. The Wildcats built a 13-4 lead and gradually pulled away for the 30-16 win.

Willamette provided its most resistance in the third game. LC led 5-2 and eventually held a 10-5 margin, but the Bearcats cut the deficit to a single point, 10-9, following an attacking error by the Wildcats. Willamette was within two points at 15-13, before Linfield recorded back-to-back scores on a ball-handling error by the Bearcats and a kill by Kreiger. Linfield remained in front by at least three points the rest of the way, and eventually scored the final four points of the match for a 30-22 win.

Kreiger’s 15 kills led all players. Katelyn Baker contributed 12 kills for the Wildcats, while Kelsey French chipped in nine kills. Chelsey Gellatly registered 24 assists, four kills and five digs, while playing just two games as the Wildcats’ setter. Stephanie Purser added 15 assists in the third game.

Linfield accumulated 69 digs, led by libero Hanna Veley with 17. Michelle Wyatt matched Kreiger for second on the team with 12 digs. Meghan Flink provided 11 digs. Kreiger’s four block assists helped the Wildcats earn 8.0 team total blocks on two block solos and 12 block assists.

For Willamette, Mary Butler led the way with seven kills and a team-high .273 hitting percentage. Brooke Smith and Edyth Lee-Barnes each added six kills, while Jessica Durham registered 11 digs. Jessica Drumm supplied 20 assists and 10 digs.

The Bearcats hit .063 with 27 kills and 19 kill errors on 126 total attacks. WU recorded 44 digs and four serving aces, but had six serving errors and six ball-handling errors.

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