THE RECORDS
Linfield is looking to bounce back after a tough trip to Tacoma last weekend. The Wildcats (4-5, 0-2) fell to Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran in back-to-back matches both in straight sets. Now the focus shifts to in-state opponents Lewis & Clark (5-5, 0-2) and Willamette (5-4, 0-2) with the Wildcats hunting for their first Northwest Conference win.
 
LINFIELD AT A GLANCE
Offensively, the Wildcats rank near the top of the conference in hitting percentage (.188) with Araeya Watanabe leading the team in points, kills and serving aces. Senior Claire Johnson is third in the NWC in assists per set averaging 8.78.
 
Defensively, the duo of Nora Myre and Paige Richards have helped Linfield rank second-best in the NWC in opponent-hitting percentage posting only .143. Richards ranks inside the conference top-10 of digs per set with 3.55.
 
LEWIS & CLARK AT A GLANCE
The Pioneers have struggled offensively posting a conference-low hitting percentage of .139 and kills per set with 10.03. Izzy Willis leads the attack with 3.81 kills per set and 118 kills on the season. Katie Shimaura, Ruby Kuerschner and Willis all rank among the top of the conference in serving aces per set. Shimaura leads the Pioneers with 137 digs.
 
WILLAMETTE AT A GLANCE
The Bearcats are solid defensively, ranking second in the conference in opponent assists and opponent kills per set. Shyla Sato leads the Willamette defense, averaging 5.42 digs per set. Cadien Olivia and Sydney Locke lead the Willamette offense with Olivia averaging 3.65 kills per set and Locke hitting .251.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Wildcats are 44-15 all-time against the Pioneers including a 23-6 home record. Lewis & Clark have won six of the last 10 matchups but Linfield has taken the last three straight and will look to make it four in a row on Friday.
 
Willamette has claimed 35 of the 61 all-time matchups against Linfield with the 'Cats losing the last 11. The Wildcats are looking for their first win against the Bearcats since 2017 in a Red Out promotion partnership with Alpha Phi to benefit women's heart health.