FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Linfield volleyball (7-8, 4-4 NWC) returned to the win column Saturday evening, sweeping Pacific (1-14, 0-8 NWC) 25-20, 29-27, 25-16.
Nora Myre continued her strong weekend with yet another double-double, meanwhile libero
Naia Alefaio-Foifua led all athletes with 22 digs and Margaritah Banuelos dealt 24 assists.
Linfield established control midway through the opening set after the teams traded points early. Holding a narrow 16-15 advantage, the Wildcats used a 4-0 run highlighted by back-to-back kills from
Kaitlyn Hough to extend their lead to 20-15. Pacific managed to cut into the deficit, but Linfield maintained its advantage before
Madison Millard delivered the set-winning kill to secure a 25-20 victory.
The second set proved to be the most competitive of the evening, with both teams exchanging leads throughout the frame. Linfield battled through a 23-22 deficit before a Hough kill tied the score at 23 and a Pacific setting error gave the Wildcats set point. The Boxers answered to force extra points, and the teams continued trading scores until a block from Millard and
Katelyn Mawdsley gave Linfield a 27-26 advantage. After Pacific tied the set once again, a service error and a
Tatum Montiel kill secured the 29-27 victory, putting Linfield ahead two sets to none.
The Wildcats carried their momentum into the third set, gradually building an advantage before pulling away late. Leading 12-11, Linfield scored four consecutive points, including a
Bella Rodriguez service ace and a
Nora Myre kill, to establish a 16-11 lead. The Wildcats later used another four-point run to stretch the margin to 21-13, highlighted by kills from Hough and
Marissa Thompson. Linfield closed out the match with a 25-16 victory, with Thompson delivering the final kill.
Myre led the Wildcats with a match-high 14 kills on 31 attempts, committing just one error for an impressive .419 hitting percentage; her most efficient performance of the season. She also recorded a season-high 18 digs to complete another double-double.Â
Hough added eight kills on 22 swings while hitting .318, and Mawdsley and Montiel each contributed six kills. Millard finished with four kills, one solo block and two block assists, while
Ascha Nielsen added three kills and three block assists.
Naia Alefaio-Foifua anchored Linfield's defense with a match-high 22 digs and four assists. Rodriguez added 10 digs and two service aces, while Margaritah Banuelos directed the offense with a match-high 24 assists, four digs and an ace.
Kaarina Geymann contributed 10 assists, and
Hi'ilei Alo added three assists in the final set.
As a team, Linfield delivered one of its most efficient offensive performances of the season, finishing with 44 kills and just 11 errors on 117 attempts for a .282 hitting percentage. The Wildcats also totaled 60 digs, 41 assists and seven blocks while holding Pacific to a .128 hitting percentage.
Halfway through the conference season, the Wildcats sit one game back of the Whitman Blues, in fifth place. The 'Cats host both Whitman and Whitworth next weekend, looking to make a run towards the Northwest Conference tournament.Â
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