Volleyball | 9/12/2012 11:35:00 PM

Box Score [Box score]

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Western Oregon got the best of local rival Willamete on the volleyball court Wednesday (Sept. 12) with a 25-12, 25-18 and 27-25 victory.

The win moves the Wolves to 6-2 on the season and drops the Bearcats to 2-5.

Becky Blees led a Wolves team that hit .343 for the match. The junior middle blocker from Portland hit .615 in the match with eight kills and no errors in just 13 swings. Blees was one of four Wolves with seven or more kills.

Cherene O'Hara showed her offensive potential off t the hometown fans with seven kills and no errors in just 12 attempts for a .583 hitting percentage. Danielle Reese led all scorers with 15 kills and 19 points. She hit .297 in the match and had a double-double after posting a team-best 11 digs. Hannah Deede had a career-best seven kills and .462 hitting percentage.

The assists for the Wolves were split nearly evenly as Jordin Ramos and LesLyne Satele combined to assist on 41 of the 46 team's kills. Satele led the team with 22 assists. Ramos chipped in with 19.

Western Oregon added a season-best 12 service aces in the match. Blees and Reese led the way with four apiece. Freshman Kelsie Chistiansen added two of her own.

"One of the things we have been working on is to win matches 3-0 when we have opportunities to do so," said Western Oregon head coach Brad Saindon. "We have had opportunities in the past to do so and let some opportunities slip away earlier in the year then it becomes a big match. But tonight we rallied together and were able to do it in three.

"I thought Cherene was very good. She has been playing well in practice and came out and played a great match in her first start," Saindon added. "It was a nice job by Becky Blees and Cherene in the middle, and to see Dani (Reese) tee it up with 15 kills was great."

The Wolves will now prepare to welcome in Walla Walla on Friday (Sept. 14) at 4:00 p.m. before starting GNAC play next week against the Alaska schools.

"It is great to have a week like this to work on things when the other GNAC teams are in conference play so we are trying to take advantage of the once every five years schedule advantage," said Saindon in speaking about the Wolves opening with travel partner Saint Martin's.