Bearcats Fall in Four Games to Boxers

Julie Stutzman lead Willamette with 20 kills, three service aces, eleven digs and hit .515.

Julie Stutzman pounded out a match-high 20 kills to go with a .515 hitting percentage against Pacific. Photo courtesy: Willamette Athletics

SALEM, Ore. - The Willamette University volleyball team put up a spirited effort against Pacific University, but fell in their Northwest Conference match in four games Friday night.

The Boxers won 30-20, 30-17, 27-30, 30-23 to improve to 8-6 overall, 3-4 in the NWC. Willamette’s record went to 2-13 overall, 0-7 in the conference.

The game took place on Parent and Family Weekend, with the Bearcat players honoring their parents with roses.

Also in attendance were members from various Bearcat sports teams, including men’s tennis, women’s basketball, softball, men’s cross country and men’s basketball.

One group even came with body paint spelling out “Go WU!” to support the Bearcats. All this added up to a raucous atmosphere in the Cone Field House.

Willamette held an early lead in the first game at 6-2, on a kill by Julie Stutzman.

Pacific countered with run of its own for a 14-9 lead.

The Boxers gradually pulled away, and won 10 of the last 17 points to take the game, 30-20.

Pacific raced out to an early 18-7 lead in the second game before a kill by Christina McGilvray stopped the Boxer run.

However, Pacific won 12 of the next 22 points to close out the game, while recording 17 kills and hitting .357.

Willamette rebounded with a 30-27 win in Game #3.

Buoyed by the atmosphere created by the fans, the Bearcats fought back from an early deficit to lead 17-16.

After a Pacific timeout, Willamette quickly won five of six points to extend the lead to 22-17.

After more timeouts by both teams, the Bearcats led 23-22. WU clinched the game with a 7-5 run, starting with a block by Stutzman and ending with an aggressive attack by Kelley Lindstrom.

In the fourth game, Willamette and Pacific traded points throughout, with neither side able to gain momentum. The score was 23-22 in favor of Pacific following a service error by the Boxers’ Alyssa Finn.

Willamette was unable to tie the game, as Pacific won the next point to start a 7-1 run for a 30-23 win.

WU earned 54 kills during the match, with Stutzman leading the way with 20. Stutzman also had three service aces, eleven digs and hit .515.

Lindstrom contributed 12 kills and two block assists. Jessica Durham and McGilvray both had seven kills, with Durham recording a team-high 17 digs.

Brittany Ashby provided the Bearcats with 43 assists. Christine Dion earned 14 digs, while Clare Chedester provided 13 digs.

For Pacific, Joanna Delanty recorded 18 kills and three block assists, while Peacock had 13 kills and two service aces. Iseke contributed 46 assists and 10 digs. Melissa Dunn provided the Boxers with 13 kills and a match-high 20 digs.

Willamette next plays on the road on Saturday, when the Bearcats will take on the University of Puget Sound. Match time in Tacoma, Wash., is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT).

Source: Willamette Athletics

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