MCMINNILLE, Ore. --- Linfield volleyball (9-12, 7-9 NWC) finished off the season on Saturday night inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium, earning their second straight-set victory over the Lewis & Clark Pioneers (0-23, 0-16 NWC) on senior night. 
 
The Wildcats grabbed an early 5-1 lead over the Pioneers in the opening set, although Lewis & Clark managed to tie it back up at 5-5. A range of 'Cats got to work, Madison Millard, Tatum Montiel, Araeya Watanabe, Kateltn Mawdsley, and Kaitlyn Hough gave Linfield a 7-3 run to capture the lead again. The lead grew to as large as nine behind a pair of errors by the Pios and kills from Nora Myre, Linfield cruised to a 25-17 win in the opening set.
 
Lewis & Clark's first lead of the match came in the second set, as they led by as many as three. But the match was tied up nine times up until 15-15. Millard notched four aces to propel a 10-1 run for Linfield, closing out set two, 25-16, and putting the Pios on the heels of a straight-set match. 
 
Set three opened with seven tied scores as the two squads went back-and-forth early on yet again. Following a 10-10 tie, the Wildcats were able to grab a sliver of momentum, maintaining the lead behind kills from Myre and Mawdsley. The Pioneers were able to tie the match back up at 16-16 before taking their first lead since early in the set at 17-16. Linfield quickly rebounded, forcing a Lewis & Clark timeout after taking the lead back at 18-17. 
 
The 'Cats maintained and pulled away late, taking a 22-19 serve featuring highlight-reel digs by Naia Alefaio-Foifua leading to killed by Myre and Millard. A 7-3 run capped off by senior Araeya Watanabe gave Linfield a 25-21 win in the third set, and a straight-set victory on senior night. Volleyball earned their fourth straight-set victory of the season, and just their second sweep inside Ted Wilson gymnasium this season. 
 
Seniors Anela Madarang-Brandes and Araeya Watanabe were honored following Saturday's match alongside their teammates, friends, and family for their hard work and contributions to the university during their careers.
 
Linfield volleyball's season comes to a close, finishing the season sixth in the Northwest Conference standings, their best record and finish since the 2016 season where the 'Cats finished four in the conference at 8-8. A promising start to head coach Jenna Street's career at the helm of the program.
 
 
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