Linfield Takes NWC Opener vs Willamette in Four Sets

Lindsey Compton earned a season-high 42 assists and also provided eight digs and two block assists. Photo Courtesy: WU Athletics

(SALEM, Ore. ) — Fighting off a strong rally in the fourth set, Linfield held on to knock off Willamette  25-19, 25-17, 23-25, 28-26 Tuesday night inside Cone Field House in the Northwest Conference opener for both clubs.
 
Freshman Jamie Talbo (Fr., Honolulu, Hawaii) turned in a match-high 19 kills, 22 assists and 14 digs, part of a three-pronged attack that powered the Wildcats past the Bearcats. Another frosh, Danielle Spirlin (Fr., Portland, Ore.), delivered a season-best 10 kills along with three block assists and senior Kailana Ritte-Camara (Sr., Molokai, Hawaii) added her customary double-digit output with 10 kills and 13 digs.
 
All in all, the Wildcats turned in a tremendous team performance against their conference rivals. Caiti Barrie (Jr., Medford, Ore.) struck for nine kills and a service ace while setter Casie Gaza (So., Miliani, Hawaii) had 27 kills, 13 digs and two aces. Libero Coutney Uyeda added another 15 digs along the back line.

Victoria Thompson (Sr., Newberg, Ore.) chipped in with three block assists and seven kills. Molly McTaggart (So., Burlington, Wash.) had eight kills and a pair of aces in the win.
 
The Wildcats accounted for a season-high .295 hitting percentage compared with the Bearcats' .219. Sarah Fincher led WU with 14 kills while Lindsey Compton had 42 assists for the hosts.
 
In the first set, Linfield pulled away from a 13-all tie as Talbo quickly caught fire with six kills. The Wildcats went up 2-0 in sets, turning an early two-point deficit into an eight-point win, thanks to four kills each by Talbo and Thompson.
 
Willamette pulled away in the middle stages of the third set to win by two, 25-23, as Fincher and Alida Holt each hammered down five kills.
 
Talbo and Uyeda made certain the Wildcats would win the fourth set to clinch the match, though the Wildcats did need four match points to accomplish it. A kill by Barrie on a pass from Talbo sealed the victory. Talbo converted seven of her 11 attacks into kills and Uyeda prevented six balls from reaching the floor in the deciding set. Ritte-Camara scored five of her 10 kills in the frame.
 
With the road triumph, Linfield ended a four-match slide. The Wildcats (1-4, 1-0 NWC) also halted a three-match losing skid to the Bearcats (5-5, 0-1 NWC).
 
COMING UP:

Linfield visits nearby George Fox Saturday night for a 7:00 p.m. match with the Bruins.

Source: Linfield Athletics