MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – With both teams winless in Northwest Conference play, the Linfield Wildcats defeated the Whitman Blues in four sets to pick up their first conference win of the season.
 
The Wildcats are now 1-4 in conference, while the Blues fall to 0-5 through the first five matches. Linfield matches the conference win total from 2018 at one and one shy of overall wins at five, after winning six a year ago. This win also snaps a six match losing streak for Linfield.
 
Second in the conference in aces per game, Aylea Dixon served up back-to-back at the start of the match to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead, the Yamhill, Oregon, native had five in the match.
 
Everything went right for the Wildcats in the first set, who had a 20-11 lead on assisted block by Hannah Waterman and Kara Thomas. The two had three blocks each in the match.
 
A kill by Lori Cimmiyotti closed out the first set, 25-15 for the Wildcats. This was the first set won at home in 2019 for the Wildcats. Cimmiyotti had 14 kills in the match, which was the season high for The Dalles, Oregon, native.
 
The Blues adjusted in the second set and flipped the script. They lead the set 12-7 on an error by the Wildcats and closed out the second set 25-18 to tie the match.
 
Both teams exchanged the first few points but an ace by Leisa Eto gave Linfield a 9-4 lead in the third set.
 
Whitman pulled to within 15-13 on an attacking error, but Linfield closed the third set, 25-16 on a 10-3 run including back-to-back aces by Regan Dean.
 
Neither team was able to get an edge in the fourth set and it looked the Blues would be able to close out the set leading 22-20, but errors on three of the next four points by the Blues allowed the Wildcats an opportunity to close out the match.
 
Linfield had four chances to win this one, but Whitman was able to stay alive. Finally, on the fifth match point, a kill by Raelynn Hammock gave Linfield its first conference win of the season.
 
The Blues landed more attacks than the Wildcats at 15.2 percent to 13.9 percent.
 
Maya Nakasone continues to fight to keep points alive, having 18 digs on Friday night, she is seventh in the conference at 195 on the season.
 
Dean and Hammock both had double doubles in this one. Dean had 13 kills and 11 digs, while Hammock had 10 kills and 13 digs.
 
Linfield is now 35-16 all time against Whitman, including winning three of the last four.
 
UP NEXT
The Linfield Wildcats will welcome the Whitman Pirates on Saturday at 6 p.m., that match is the annual Pink Night game, fans are encouraged to wear pink to raise awareness for breast cancer.