SALEM, Ore. --- Linfield volleyball (7-10, 5-7 NWC) grabbed the opening set, but the Willamette Bearcats (10-11, 8-6 NWC) added another match to their lead on the Wildcats in the conference standings.
In the opening set of the final mid-week match of the season, both squads were tied up 10 times in set one alone. From 12-12, Linfield went on a 7-2 run behind
Tatum Montiel and
Araeya Watanabe kills. The cushion was plenty for the Wildcats to then take five of the final six points and claim the opening set. Watanabe and
Madison Millard let the team to the set win.
Momentum carried into the second for Linfield, grabbing a quick 4-1 lead, later squandered by Willamette, once again tying the match six more times. Just as the Bearcats grabbed their largest lead of the match, Margaritah Banuelos and the Wildcats fought back to tie it up again at 18-18. Linfield led at 23-22, on the verge of completing a comeback, but just as the 'Cats did, the Bearcats timeout propelled a 3-0 run to take the second set, 25-23 Willamette.
The third was all Willamette early, as the hosts took a quick 6-1 lead. The Bearcats stretched their advantage to as large as eight, too much for Linfield's
Nora Myre and Millard to keep the set alive. Willamette took the third, 25-18. The hosts continued their own momentum into the fourth set, after a 6-0 run put Willamette up 12-5. Myre and Montiel did their best to claw the 'Cats back into the match, but it was too-little, too-late, as the Bearcats shut the door on the comeback, taking the fourth and final set, 25-19.
Myre led the team with 12 kills and 13 digs with a .162 hitting percentage for the match. Millard added to blocks to her season total, leading the 'Cats at the net.
Pi'ilani Hirahara and Margaritah Banuelos handled the setting duties, with Hirahara earning 15 assists to Banuelos' 11.
Naia Alefaio-Foifua notched 11 digs, while serving three of the team's six aces on the night.
The Wildcats look to snap their streak, hosting two more matches this weekend inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium, taking on Pacific Lutheran and Puget Sound on Friday and Saturday night.
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