PORTLAND, Ore. - The Lewis & Clark volleyball team hosted its first official Northwest Conference match of the season on Friday night, hosting the Willamette Bearcats in the Pamplin Sports Center. Willamette walked away with the 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-21) victory. 

The Pioneers fall to 6-4 on the season and 0-1 in conference play, while the Bearcats improve to 6-5 on the season and 1-1 in the NWC.

Isabel Valentine led the Pioneers offense with a match-high 12 kills, while Tessa Belanger had eight and Brigitte Russo and Kataleya Milan each finished with five. Vanessa Hall and Emily Drake each earned 16 assists on the night, while Alexe Navarro led all players with 25 digs. Belanger had a solid night from the net, putting down five block assists for Lewis & Clark.

Alexa Dowdell and Alida Holt each ended the night with eight kills for Willamette, while Lindsey Compton had a match-high 27 assists. Taylor Lum led all players with seven blocks.

The Pioneers started the first set with a solid 3-1 advantage, but quickly found themselves trailing after back-to-back kills by Lum. Willamette would continue to hold the lead the remainder of the set. 

Errors put the Pioneers behind early in the second set, but they managed rattle the Bearcats later in the set. Trailing 19-11 the Pioneers pulled within two points (22-20) on kills by Milan, Belanger and Valentine and some help from attacking errors by the Bearcats. However, Willamette would settle down and take the set moments later. 

Willamette came out with everything it had in the third set never allowing the Pioneers to hold the lead. Like the second set the Pioneers pulled within striking distance but the Willamette offense found a way to hang on.  

The Pioneers return to the court on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. against Pacific in Forest Grove.