Linfield Wildcats Defeat Pacific University Boxers - Volleyball

Caiti Barrie Outblocks entire Pacific team. Photo: Linfield Wildcats

(McMINNVILLE, ORE.) — Using a much-improved quick-set offense featuring setters Jamie Talbo (Fr., Honolulu, Hawaii) and Casie Gaza (So., Miliani, Hawaii) and middle blocker Caiti Barrie (Jr., Medford, Ore.), the Linfield Wildcats handily defeated a reeling Pacific University Boxers squad in three sets, 25-18, 25-21, 25-16, Friday night at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.

Playing the last of four consecutive home dates, the sweep of the Boxers gave the Wildcats a 3-1 record in that span while dealing Pacific its fifth straight defeat. Perhaps more importantly, Linfield rose to 5-2 in the Northwest Conference to share third place with Puget Sound. The 'Cats also evened their overall record at 6-6.

Barrie and Talbo each managed seven kills while outside hitter Victoria Thompson (Sr., Newberg, Ore.) added six. Haley Bedell and Marie Rewick of Pacific also compiled seven kills each.

Knotted at 14 in the first set, the contest looked like it was going to be decided by a small margin. However the ‘Cats, aided an 11-4 run, ran away with it behind kills from Thompson, middle blocker Danielle Spirlin (Fr., Portland, Ore.) and Barrie.

Spirlin, a first-year Wildcat, paced Linfield with three kills in the set, while hitting .400. Rewick of the Boxers kept the visitors close with three points of her own.

In the set, Linfield outhit Pacific, .261 to .000.

As in the previous frame, the contest was tightly contested from the get-go. Deadlocked at 14 apiece, the Wildcats spurted ahead for good, overcoming a handful of attack errors.

Spirlin continued her accurate hitting by adding two kills to her count and hitting .444 in the set. The Wildcats once more outhit the Boxers, .175 to .100.

Unlike the first two sets, Linfield remained comfortable throughout the entire third period. Momentum remained on Linfield's side following a smashing hit down the right line by Thompson, putting the score at 14-9, and leading the Boxers to signal for a timeout.

Linfield power hitter Kailana Ritte-Camara (Sr., Molokai, Hawaii) played more of a defensive role this match, digging 12 balls and to go with five kills. Libero Courtney Uyeda (Jr., Honolulu, Hawaii) notched a match-high 15 digs while teammate Gaza had 13. Barrie had two solo blocks and two block assists, more than the entire Pacific team recorded.

‘CAT SCRATCH: The Wildcats wore pink jersey tops to help spread awareness and raise dollars for breast cancer research . . . Ritte-Camara became just the fourth Wildcat in Linfield history to surpass 3,000 career attacks. . . Linfield won its fifth NWC match, surpassing last season's conference win total before the halfway mark of the season. . .

AHEAD: The Wildcats take their talents on the road Saturday night when they play at the University of Puget Sound. First serve is set to begin at 7 p.m. in Tacoma, Wash.

Source: Linfield University