MCMINNVILLE, Ore. --- Wildcat volleyball (4-4, 2-1 NWC) wrapped up their first weekend series at home, also claiming their first Northwest conference home win over the Whitman Blues (3-8, 2-2 NWC) in the process.
Coming off of a late-night five-set match, the 'Cats came out energized and hungry to capture their first home win of the season. Linfield broke out on a 4-0 run following a 6-6 draw, but once Whitman tied it up again at 12-12, set one was back-and-forth from there on out. The opening set saw seven instances of a tied score up until 24-24. Linfield head coach
Jenna Street called a timeout with the set heading to extra points, leading to an ace by
Nora Myre and a Blues attack error to take set one, 26-24.
Whitman climbed out to an early 6-2 lead in the second set, but the 'Cats clawed back and knotted the score at 7-7. Similar to the first set, the two squads found themselves tied nine more times, leading to a second consecutive 22-22 even score. Kills by
Madison Millard and
Katelyn Mawdsley late in the set kept the 'Cats close with the Blues. This time, Whitman was able to utilize their last timeout late and scheme up a plan to get the final point. The Blues captured set two, 25-23.
It was all Wildcats to open the third, jumping out to a 5-0 lead, forcing Whitman to take a timeout. Myre once again led the charge from beyond the service line. The Blues were able to get within one before a 6-2 run helped the Wildcats gain a noteworthy seven-point-lead in the set. Neither team would quit, as Whitman responded with a 7-1 run to capture a 16-15 lead; their first lead of the set. The two teams were tied as late as 21-21, but clutch kills by Talilioa, Foifua, and a block by Mawdsley and Taliloa highlighted a 4-1 run to close the set, 25-22 in favor of the Wildcats.
The Blues climbed out to an early 8-3 lead, maintaining their advantage up to 13-7, earning a timeout from Street. The momentum swung following the timeout, as the 'Cats went on a 9-2 run to take a 16-15 lead over the Blues. The run was managed by Margaritah Banuelos behind the service line, helping
Tatum Montiel, Mawdsley, Millard, and Myre, execute on offense. Whitman was able to find some hope, tying the set at 18-18, although Linfield's ensuing 4-0 run was nearly matched by Whitman, making it 22-21 in favor of the Wildcats. Final kills by Montiel,
Araeya Watanabe, put the match way in set four, 25-22.
Myre notched a match-high 17 kills on 48 total attacks, with three aces from beyond the line. The junior trailed only
Naia Alefaio-Foifua in digs as well, with Myre making 18 to the libero's 20. Mawdsley and Millard led the charge at the net, tallying two-total digs each. Although the 'Cats had more hitting errors, they out-hit the Blues, with a .114 hitting percentage.
Linfield volleyball advances to 2-1 in NWC play, now sitting in a tie for third with Pacific Lutheran, behind the two undefeated teams that remain in Whitworth and Puget Sound.
The 'Cats are back inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium in just three days, set to host the Willamette Bearcats at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30
th.
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