SALEM, Ore. – Senior Rachel Gowen (Oregon City, Ore.) recorded a match-high 11 kills to go along with fellow senior Rashelle Davenport's (Kalama, Wash.) 10-kill output, as Corban's women's volleyball team defeated cross town rival Willamette, 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-13, 25-21), Tuesday night inside Cone Field House.
In a battle of cross town rivals, the Warriors and Bearcats came out a little sloppy in the opening set as both teams combined to record 14 kills with 14 hitting errors. Fortunately for Corban, the Bearcats committed more hitting errors en route to the Warriors' five-point victory (25-20).
In the second set, Willamette rebounded and recorded a combined 12 kills with a mere two hitting errors. On the other side of the net, Corban got a combined 14 kills but committed 13 hitting errors which led to a two-point Bearcat win (25-23).
In the third set, Corban took complete control as the Warriors combined for 10 kills compared to Willamette's three. In the most lopsided set of the season so far for Corban, the Warriors grabbed a 2-1 lead thanks to a 12-point victory (25-13).
In the fourth and final set, Corban almost doubled the Bearcats' kill total as the Warriors registered a combined 15 kills versus Willamette's nine. Corban ran its streak to three straight wins over Willamette thanks to a four-point victory (25-21) in the final set.
Along with Gowen and Davenport, fellow senior Chelsea Reeher (Powell Butte, Ore.) and sophomore Teri Braun (Dallas, Ore.) added 8 and 7 kills respectively. Junior Amy Thompson (Oregon City, Ore.) and freshman Megan Dees (Tehachapi, Calif.) combined to hand out 34 assists, as Thompson led the Warriors with a season-high 20. Sophomore Rebecca Franke (Pendleton, Ore.) anchored the Warriors' back line with a match-high 20 digs, while Davenport, Reeher, and junior Andrea Potloff (Aumsville, Ore.) added 15, 11, and 11 digs respectively.
For Willamette, former Warrior Jessica McGraw led the Bearcats with a team-high eight kills. McGraw was aided by Carli Sash, Jessica Durham, and Kelly Lindstrom, who registered six kills each. Christine Dion handed out a match-high 24 assists, while Clare Chedester recorded a team-high 19 digs.
With the victory, Corban improves to 1-3. Meanwhile, Willamette drops to 1-4 so far this season. The Warriors return to action on Friday, September 5th, when they begin conference play against the Geoducks of The Evergreen State College at 7:00 p.m. inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.
NOTE: Prior to the Warrior-Geoduck match, Corban's athletic department will host the 3rd annual Serve-It-Up Volleyball barbeque in the gymnasium parking lot beginning at 5:45 p.m.
