EUGENE, Ore.  – October will be an important month for the Bushnell volleyball team, and they got it off to a perfect start on Friday afternoon, sweeping Walla Walla University 25-9, 25-16, 25-16.
 
The Beacons (12-2, 10-2 CCC) hit over .300 in the match and held Walla Walla to a -.103 hitting percentage as the Wolves collected 12 kills but had 18 attack errors. The win gave Bushnell five straight.
 
Head Coach Jason Corwin said, "There were a lot of contributions to the team win tonight. We focused on maintaining consistency for each set and the team delivered.
 
The second and third sets provided the Beacons an opportunity to work on their 6-2 offense as Coach Corwin was able to get some playing time for backup setters Peyton Ritchie and Sydnie Tuioti-Mariner. Ritchie led all players with 13 assists while Tuioti-Mariner, in her first collegiate action, added 11 and three service aces.
 
"It was an awesome opportunity for everyone to find a rhythm with one another and to see how far we could push ourselves today," said Ritchie.
 
Bushnell collected 11 service aces as a whole, led by four from Brooke Silvernail. The team also held an 8-2 advantage in blocks, led by five from Sierra Jenkins and four from Chloe Kurahara. Kurahara added three kills and two digs on her birthday.
 
"This was a great way to kick off a stretch of home games," said Kurahara. "There was such high energy today and great teamwork. It was fun to contribute and the cherry on top of my birthday."
 
Jenkins added, "We have all worked so hard this season and it was fun to see everyone contribute and show that hard work today."
 
Three players led by Beacons in hitting, each with eight kills. Halle Neumann hit .500 and added a block, Sierra Jenkins also hit .500 and had five blocks, and Cambria Lingenfelder led all players with 17 swings.
 
Walla Walla (0-11, 0-10) walked away with the dig advantage, 25-24, led by a match-high seven from Carlee Smith. Gabrielle Browning led the offense with four kills and two aces and Smith also led the team with eight assists.
 
The Beacons will play their second match of a seven-match homestand on Saturday night, taking on Lewis-Clark State at 7:00 pm.