PORTLAND, Ore. – Coming off a dominate performance on Tuesday, the Multnomah University Women's Volleyball team hopes to bring that momentum as they head north for a Cascade Collegiate Conference match against Walla Walla on Friday in College Place, Wash.
The Lions (1-3, 0-3 CCC) accomplished their first win of the season with the help of sophomore outside hitter Patty Batoon who tallied a school record 25 kills against New Hope Christian. With that performance, Batoon has totaled 58 kills and is second in the CCC in kills per set, averaging 4.46 a set.
MU is still seeking their first conference win in their inaugural season as members of the CCC and could see that moment come this weekend. The Wolves of Walla Walla are 3-4 on the season and have a CCC record of 0-2 so far this year.
Freshman setter
Marissa Rhodes has had an exceptional start to her career at Multnomah. In only 13 sets, Rhodes has tallied 102 assists and currently sits at 10th in the conference in assists per set average (7.85).
The Lions have struggled defensively in the early season, ranking in the bottom of the pack in opponent's hitting percentage and in blocks.
MU will need to cut down on the numbers of errors and be more consistent in serving to take the match from Walla Walla.
Adding to the Lions attack are freshman outsider
Miranda Halverson (33 kills) and junior middle
Kathrynn Gerard (18) while sophomore outside hitter
Kayti Nelson leads the team in attack percentage at .273.
Holding down the back line for MU is another freshman in libero
Devyn Sigurdson who has totaled 43 digs, averaging 3.31, good enough for 10th in the CCC.
The Wolves also enter their first year as a CCC institution and rank last in the conference in hitting percentage, kills, and assists while they rank 5th overall in blocks. The two conference opponent Walla Walla has faced have been College of Idaho, ranked No. 14 at the time, and No. 8 Eastern Oregon.
After one match on Friday, the Lions will continue their road trip south to play against No. 9 Southern Oregon on Friday, Sep. 18 followed by Oregon Tech on Saturday.
The Lions will return home on Sep. 25 to play host to C of I on Friday and Eastern on Saturday.
