`Cats Cruise Past Willamette, 3-0

With the loss Willamette drops to 2-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Photo courtesy: Linfield Athletics

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - The defending Northwest Conference champions opened up league play in style Wednesday night at Ted Wilson Gym.

Linfield handled visiting Willamette in three games, winning by the scores of 30-16, 32-30, and 30-14.

Linfield pushed its overall record past .500, moving to 5-4 overall on the season, and 1-0 in NWC play. Willamette drops to 2-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Linfield opened up game one with a quick 12-6 spurt that gave the ‘Cats a cushion they would never relinquish.

The Bearcats cut the deficit to four, 18-14, but that was as close as it got.

Linfield went on to outscore Willamette 12-2 to end the game.

Game two was a completely different story, but a hard-fought win for Linfield nonetheless.

The Wildcats battled back from an early deficit.

The Wildcats trailed for nearly the entire frame before finally taking command, 24-23.

The Bearcats refused to go quietly, as they tied the game twice when facing game point.

Linfield won on a Bearcat team error, taking the second game, 32-30.

To close out the match, the Wildcats jumped out to a quick 7-4 lead. From that point on, they ran away with the game, outscoring the Bearcats down the stretch 23-10.

Katelyn Baker and Molly Taylor led Linfield with 13 kills a piece, while Jessica Durham led Willamette with 12 kills.

Hannah Veley had a great defensive night with 19 digs. Wildcats setter Stephanie Purser spread out 44 assists while her counterpart, Brittany Ashby, registered 23.

Linfield was much sharper at the net, hitting .351 to Willamette’s .079.

NEXT

Linfield travels to Puget Sound Saturday night for its second NWC match.

The Wildcats return home next Friday to face visiting Whitman.

Willamette resumes conference play Friday when the Bearcats take on host Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma, Wash.

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