The Pioneers followed up Friday night's thrilling victory over Linfield with a 21-30, 30-24, 30-23, 30-10 victory over the Willamette Bearcats Saturday night in Salem.

Katherine Fiedler (freshman, San Diego, Calif.) had 16 kills and six blocks (two solo, four assisted), for the Pioneers. Nicki Smith (senior, Brea, Calif.) had 14 kills and two block assists. Sara Kettler (senior, Dana Point, Calif.) had 11 kills, three block assists, and a service ace.

The Bearcats had 13 kills and six errors on 38 attacks in the opening game. WU led 7-2 and 15-10 before going on a 5-2 run to open up their lead to 20-12, with Jessica Durham The Pioneers crept as close as three points at 22-19, but timely kills from Kelley Lindstrom and serving from Edyth Lee-Barnes helped the Bearcats close out the first game 30-21.

Willamette continued their high level of play at the start of the second game by withstanding the early Pioneer pressure. The score was 6-6 until Lewis & Clark went on a 14-3 run, including scoring nine points under the serve of Jaime Hamilton (senior, Santa Rosa, Calif) and three kills by Katherine Fiedler (freshman, San Diego, Calif) to open up a 12 point lead at 21-9. After extending the Pioneers extended their lead to 28-20 on a pair of aces by Leah Collins (senior, Philo, Calif.), the Bearcats went on a run of their own, pulling within four 28-24, but back-to-back kills by Fielder earned the Pioneers the 30-24 victory.

The third game featured 13 ties and eight lead changes as the Pioneers won 30-23, with Katherine Fiedler contributing six kills in the game. With the Pioneers holding a slim 24-23 lead, the Pioneer defense led the team, forcing five Willamette errors to close out the game.

The Pioneers dominated game four, with Lara Smith (senior, Vashon Island, Wash.) opening the game on serve, and leading the team to an early 12-0 lead. Nicki Smith (senior, Brea, Calif) had four kills and Sara Kettler (senior, Dana Point, Calif.) three during the opening run. Lara Smith had three service aces in the game, helping to lead the Pioneers to their dominant 30-10 victory and the 3-1 match win.

The victory was the third- straight Conference win for the Pioneers. This is the first time since September 2005 that the Pioneers won three matches in a row and the first time since at least 1991 that the Pioneers won three Conference matches in a row. 

The Pioneers improve to 9-15, 5-9 NWC and move into a three-way tie for sixth place in the Conference. The team closes out their season next weekend with a trip to eastern Washington, playing at Whitworth and Whitman next Friday and Saturday.