CLAREMONT, Calif. – Lewis & Clark College volleyball opened the 2023 season at the Pacific Coast Classic Tournament with two wins on Friday afternoon, equaling their win total from a year ago. Five players made their collegiate debut, three players recorded double-doubles, and senior libero Katie Shimaura set the program record for aces in a single match.
 
THE BASICS
 
GAME ONE
Lewis & Clark 3, Illinois Tech 2 (23-25, 25-16, 26-24, 19-25, 15-8) 
(Lewis & Clark 1-0)
(Illinois Tech 0-1)
 
GAME TWO
Lewis & Clark 3, Alfred 0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-14) 
(Lewis & Clark 2-0)
(Alfred 0-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Game One
 
Lewis & Clark opened the day against the Illinois Institute of Technology and pulled out a five-set victory over the Scarlet Hawks, 23-25, 25-16, 26-24, 19-25, 15-8.
 
In each set that the Pioneers won, they started with the lead and never relinquished it. Set three was the only set Lewis & Clark won in which there was a tie. Set one had eight ties and five lead changes, while set four had two ties and one lead change. "I'm really proud of the whole team effort," head coach Erin Labasan commented after the match.
 
Senior Izzy Willis was one of three Pioneers to record a double-double in the win, with 21 kills and 15 digs, both career-highs.
 
Shimaura also recorded a double-double with 20 digs and a program-record 11 aces against the Scarlet Hawks.
 
Freshman setter Ruby Kuerschner made her collegiate debut against Illinois Tech, dishing out 35 assists and digging up 12 balls in the win.
 
Junior Annika Traxler was the only other Pioneer to record double-digit kills against the Scarlet Hawks, putting down 11, a career-high. She also added two aces and two block assists.
 
Emily Strand added five kills in the win. The junior outside hitter added three aces and a solo block in the match.
 
Junior middle blocker, Ella Ruark made her collegiate debut on Friday and hit a team-high .333 with three kills and three service aces.    
 
Freshman Christi San Diego recorded two kills and two block assists in her collegiate debut against Illinois Tech.
 
Game Two
 
Immediately following the first game of the day Lewis & Clark easily dispatched of Alfred University in three sets, 25-19, 25-22, 25-14.
 
Willis led the way for the Pioneers again, hitting a team-high .385 with 13 kills and four service aces, both match-highs.
 
Sophomore Reilyn Sabado recorded a career-high 11 digs against the Saxons.
 
Shimaura and Kuerschner combined for 22 assists in the match, with Shimaura dishing out 12, a career-best.  
 
First-years Isabel Melean-Williams and HB Schuett both made their collegiate debuts against Alfred. Schuett knocked down four kills in the win. Melean-Williams had four blocks against the Saxons, one solo, and three block assists.
 
Sophomore Piper McCoy Harmon made her season debut with two kills in the win.
 
BY THE NUMBERS 

• Willis' 34 total kills on Friday is the most kills for the senior over two matches.
• Junior Bethany Ballesteros had two assists and four digs against Illinois Tech.
• The Pioneers hit .250 or better on Friday in four of the eight sets.
• Lewis & Clark recorded 25 total service aces against Illinois Tech.

WHO'S NEXT
 
The Pioneers will take on two more opponents at the Pacific Coast Classic tomorrow. They play Nebraska Wesleyan University at 10:30 a.m. and then face off with Occidental College at 3 p.m.