Box Score FOREST GROVE, Ore. – The last time Linfield volleyball swept an opponent was on Sept. 11, 2021, against Mills College. Almost a full year later, the Wildcats claimed another victim in straight sets in a convincing win over Austin College Friday night at Pacific University's Stoller Center.
 
Linfield cruised to a 26-24, 25-22, 25-19 win over the 'Roos from the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The 'Cats tallied 38 kills, 42 digs, 37 assists, nine aces and six blocks. They finished with a .220 hitting percentage while limiting the 'Roos to a .106 percentage to take their first match of the Oregon Trail Classic.
 
In Linfield's outing at the Pacific Coast Classic in California, a new player stepped up every match to send the 'Cats back home with a 3-1 record. That wasn't the case against Austin as a full team effort was put on display.
 
Raelynn Hammock and Ellie Mead led the way with match highs of 10 kills. Mead racked up her kills on a .500 hitting percentage. She also had two blocks. Hammock finished with nine digs and three aces. Marina Erosa also fended well with eight kills and seven digs.
 
Megan Stanek contributed four kills on a match-high .571 hitting percentage to go with three blocks. Paige Richards led all players with 13 digs while Aylea Dixon dished out 35 assists.
 
Riley Abernathy led Austin with six kills while Mattie Duncan had five on eight attempts. No 'Roo finished with double digit kills, assists or blocks.
 
NEXT
Linfield (4-1) will play UC-Santa Cruz at 1 p.m. on Saturday to wrap up the Oregon Trail Classic. Northwest Conference play waits in the wings as the 'Cats host Willamette (Sept. 16) and Lewis & Clark (Sept. 17) on Homecoming Weekend.