WELCOME TO LINFIELD UNIVERSITY
ATHLETIC
Scott Brosius
EVENT MANAGER
Jamie Vasas
COMMUNICATIONS
Conner Jensen, Kelly Bird
STATISTICS
Kira Hawaaboo, Jordan Hayes
PUBLIC ADDRESS AND SCOREBOARD
Steve Oleson
VIDEO WEBCASTS
Eric Albios, Brian Kice, Joe Stuart
OFFICIAL SCORER
Leslie Benton
EVENT PROGRAM
Kelly Bird, Conner Jensen, Felipe Unker, Kellen Wiggins
happy wildcats
MARINA EROSA CAREER STATISTICS
48 matches
132 sets
256 kills
1.94 kills/set
.130 hitting percentage
19 service aces
196 digs
20 total blocks
PAIGE RICHARDS CAREER STATISTICS
84 matches
302 sets
152 assists 0.50 assists/set
77 service aces
0.25 assists/set
925 digs
3.06 digs/set
TED WILSON GYMNASIUM
Ted Wilson Gymnasium bears the name of the man who coached the Linfield basketball team to more championships than any individual in school history. Over 20 seasons, Wilson directed the Wildcats in over 500 games, compiling a 324-213 record. Riley Gymnasium was nicknamed the “House of Hustle” out of respect for Wilson’s high-scoring teams, which averaged a school-record 96.5 points a game during the 1977-78 season. The nickname remained when Wilson Gym replaced Riley Gym in 1989.
The numerous accomplishments of past championship teams and individuals from each of Linfield’s varsity sports programs now proudly encircle Wilson Gym’s court. Sixtysix banners now surround Wilson Gym’s playing surface and include every program with championship success. All team and individual national champions are recognized, as well as all national runners-up, both team and individual.
Additionally, a summary of every sport’s conference championship history is displayed, with some conference championship listings dating as far back as the 1930s.
The full-service facility contains locker rooms, offices and classrooms, a fully equipped athletic training room along with display areas that house the trophies and recognitions
of past Linfield teams and athletes.
In 1920, Riley Gym was built adjacent to historic Pioneer Hall at a cost of just over $25,000. Riley Gym served as the basketball home of the Wildcats for 67 seasons. A granddaddy of small college gyms, Riley played host to its first game in December, 1921, and its last game in February, 1989.
Linfield’s first on-campus basketball court was located on the north end of campus in the building now known as Newby Hall. The floor was miniature by today’s standards and there were no boundary lines. The surrounding walls prevented players from leaving the playing area. As a game was about to start, someone would check that all the doors were closed tight, the ball would be tipped off at center court, and it was every player for himself.
Up until 1907, Newby Hall, nicknamed the “Chem Shack,” was illuminated by candles with tin reflectors. In this era, many of the gyms the Wildcats played in were smaller and even more primitive than the one on the Linfield campus.
Around 1900, Linfield played its home basketball games in the old pavilion in the city park. Following practices and games, players had to heat their own shower water using a wood-burning boiler.
TED WILSON GYMNASIUM
HEAD COACH LACEY BELL
no stranger to the sport
Though Linfield is Lacey Bell’s first collegiate head coaching job, she’s not new to leading high-caliber volleyball programs
Lacey Bell has been named interim head coach of the Linfield University volleyball program, bringing with her 15 years of professional and semi-professional international playing experience to her new position.
Bell comes to Linfield from Pacific University, where her most recent role came as an assistant varsity coach and recruiting coordinator. She also was in charge of leading the Boxers’ junior varsity program.
Her volleyball resume is unique, combining extensive playing and coaching opportunities. As noted, she has 15 years of professional and semi-professional international playing experience, most notably as player-coach and seniors elite team captain with Volley Ball Pexinois Niort France, a club team located in France’s central-west coast region.
While in France, she taught American culture and language to students in grades 5-12 and headed Volley Ball Pexinois Niort France’s
development youth program, coaching boys and girls ages 6-17.
Bell began her collegiate playing career at Eastern Washington University before transferring to Gonzaga University for her final three seasons. She completed a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and political science at Gonzaga, where she was a member of the Bulldogs volleyball squad as a right-side hitter and outside hitter.
Bell earned a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Poitiers in France. She holds regional and national French Volleyball Federation coaching certifications.
She becomes just the fifth Wildcats head coach in the last 45 years, succeeding Haley Domeck, who led the program for four seasons.
lacey bell
WILDCAT SPOTLIGHT
the best of both worlds
Combining interests in medical science with law enforcement, Madison Millard wants to one day investigate crime scenes
by kellen wiggins ’28
Madison Millard was raised in Hawaii. Her hometown, Kailua, Oahu, is about a six-hour plane flight to Oregon. Despite the great d from home, the freshman volleyball player believes attending Linfield University is a place she can comfortably call home for four years.
In August, she brought her talent to Linfield in hopes of developing into a top-end studentathlete, both on and off the volleyball court. She envisions using her biology major and psychology minor to one day work sorting through crime scenes.
Every athlete follows a different and unique path to Linfield, but Millard’s path stands out. She began with a specific checklist of boxes that her future home needed to fill.
“I always knew I wanted to be in the Pacific Northwest. It’s near home but super different from where I’ve grown up,” she says. “When I was doing my college search, I wanted a school that had strong Hawaii connections. I also wanted a smaller campus so that I could have good relation ships with my professors.”
She eventually found Linfield, a school where her personal goals and the things she sought in a college lined up. Her intuition told her Linfield would be the right place for her.
“When I was getting recruited, I wanted to join a team where I could get time on the court and make a positive impact on the team culture. Linfield checked all those boxes.”
Moving far away from home to attend col lege can be a tremendous leap of faith for an 18-year-old fresh out of high school. Upon ar riving at Linfield, she says she immediately felt accepted by her peers, easing her adjustment to college life.
“I feel super lucky to have such a nice and welcoming team. My transition to Linfield has been super smooth and easy because of the girls on the team.”
Thankfully for Millard, her team includes familiar faces from her home state, namely Pi’ilani Hirahara, Loke Carter,
Kimiko Sisson, Emma Laurel and Kanoe Contreras. Having people she knew in Hawaii made being away from Kailua an easier transition. Millard has also meshed with several peers who have helped her adjust to the rigors of collegiate volleyball.
“It was great having familiar faces like Pi’i, Loke, Kimi, Emma, and Kanoe which made being away from home easier,” she says. “But captains Nora (Myre) and Sydney (Downing) have been there for me during my best and worst games. Without my incredible teammates, I would not be
When it comes to her goals, Millard mentions being a good teammate and being a source of inspiration to others. She seeks to be a strong leader and mentor for future underclassmen.
“Right now, I really just want to support and uplift my team on and off the court. I want to be their biggest cheerleader and push them to be the best they can be,” she says.
“Eventually I would love to have a leadership role on the team to help guide underclassmen the same way the upperclassmen have guided me.
After Linfield, Millard plans to use her biology major and psychology minor to investigate crime scenes. Working crime scenes at times involves grizzly circumstances. It requires a vast scientific knowledge and a commitment to upholding the law.
“Since I was little, science was my favorite subject in school,” she says. “I took biology, chemistry and anatomy in high school. They came pretty easy to me.”
Millard has been surrounded by science her whole life. Her father owns an urgent care clinic, so she grew up around the field. She knew she wanted to work in the medical field but then later discovered she also had an interest in working in law enforcement.
“For a while, I thought I wanted to go into the medical field. But as I got older, law school and becoming a lawyer started to spark my interest.”
While she researched careers, she discovered forensics. This allows her to not have to choose one path , but instead work a dream job of involving the medical field and law at the same time.
“I found forensics and thought it was a perfect mix of the medical field and criminal justice/law enforcement. I could have both my dream careers combined into one.”
The ability to develop relationships, combined with a dedication to science, should set Madison Millard up nicely for life beyond Linfield.
anela madarang-brandes | 1
5-2 | Junior | DS Waipahu, Hawaii
paige richards | 3
5-5 | Senior | DS/L Arlington, Washington
dannika goss | 2
5-9 | Freshman | S Tillamook, Oregon
PAIGE PA’ALUHI | 5
5-5 | Sophomore | DS/OH Mililani, Hawaii
camryn hirst | 12
5-10 | Sophomore | MB/RS Orinda, California
marina erosa | 8
5-9 | Senior | OH Wilmington, California
NORA MYRE | 11 5-8 | Sophomore | OH/MB Redmond, Washington
katelyn mawdsley | 13 5-9 | Freshman | MB/OH Bend, Ore.
cam coughlin | 17
5-6 | Sophomore | RS/OH Bend, Oregon
JOURNEY DEPONTE | 4 5-7 | Sophomore | MB/RS Mililani, Hawaii
sydney downing | 7
5-5 | Junior | L/DS Sumner, Washington
Kanoe contreras | 14
5-5 | Freshman | S/DS Honolulu, Hawaii
Araeya watanabe | 16 5-7 | Junior | OH/RS Salem, Oregon
kaitlyn hough | 10 5-11 | Freshman | RS/OH St. John, Washington
Madison millard | 19
6-1 | Freshman | MB Kailua, Hawaii
Malia Haynes | 22
5-7 | Freshman | DS/L Richland, Washington
Greg HIll Certified Athletic Trainer
loke carter | 24
5-10 | Freshman | RS/MB Hilo, Hawaii
bella rodriguez | 18 5-6 | Sophomore | DS/L Keizer, Oregon
emma laurel| 26
5-7 | Freshman | DS/L Kailua, Hawaii
aiyana Henderson Assistant Coach
P’i’ilani hirahara | 6 5-7 | Sophomore | MB/RS Honolulu, Hawaii
kimiko sisson | 9
5-10 | Freshman | MB/RS Ewa Beach, Hawaii
margaritah banuelos | 15
5-6 | Sophomore | S Auburn, Washington
2024 LINFIELD WILDCATS
row (l to r): Kaitlyn Hough, Madi Millard, Kimiko Sisson, Marina Erosa. Third row: Katelyn Mawdsley, Cam Coughlin, Camryn Hirst, Nora Myre, Araeya Wantanabe, Loke Carter, Interim Head Coach Lacey Bell. Second row: Dannika Goss, Paige Richards, Journey DePonte, Margaritah Bañuelos, Emma Laurel, Bella Rodriguez. Front row: Sydney Downing, Malia Haynes, Kanoe Contreras, Anela Madarang-Brandes, Paige Pa’aluhi, Piilani Hirahara.
Back
LINFIELD WILDCATS
WILLAMETTE BEARCATS
LINFIELD VERSUS WILLAMETTE match breakdown
THE RECORDS
Having put together an impressive performance in a 3-1 victory over Lewis & Clark, Linfield (6-15, 3-11 NWC) has its eyes set on ending the season on a positive note in the season’s final match versus Willamette (7-15, 6-8 NWC). The Bearcats remain in fifth place after splitting last week’s matches with a victory over Whitman and a loss to Whitworth.
LINFIELD AT A GLANCE
Nora Myre tops team statistics with 170 kills and 153 digs. Araeya Watanabe has racked up 140 kills to go along with 16 service aces. Marina Erosa has reached triple digit kills with 104 while Paige Richards persists as a leader on the back line with 196 digs. Madison Millard is up to 46 blocks and aims to add to her amazing freshman campaign. Kanoe Contreras has tallied 333 assists in her debut season.
WILLAMETTE AT A GLANCE
Olivia Cadien leads the way with 220 kills, Katey Cramer has 188 kills, and Caroline Jameson comes in with 110 kills. Leina Chu ranks second in the conference with 596 assists, setting up her teammates time and again. Dream Takemoto captains the defense with 332 digs for the Bearcats while Kaitlyn Westby proves to be a problem at the net with 57 total blocks in 2024. Willamette aims to make a late-season push with a chance to surpass George Fox for fourth place in the NWC.
SERIES HISTORY
Against Willamette, Linfield trails 26-38 in the all-time series and seeks to break a 14-match losing streak to the Bearcats. The Wildcats trail at home in the series 13-16.
16 araeya watanabe
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE
vollEYball STANDINGS
Cadien, Olivia (WU)
LINFIELD’S WILDCAT TURNS 100
First called “Wildcats” in 1924, Linfield teams have always been known for their scrapiness
It has been a century since Linfield athletic teams were first called “Wildcats.”
According to historical accounts, as competitive athletics grew in popularity and prominence during the 1920s, the student body voted in 1924 that the athletic mascot would be known as a “Wildcat” because Linfield was “a small school with a lot of fight and scratch.”
Before the 1924 vote, spectators at Linfield sports events cheered for the “Baptists,” owing to the school’s early heritage, or the “Cardinal and Purple,” a reference to the school colors.
The current Linfield athletic logo, showing a scowling Wildcat wearing a jauntily cocked sailor’s cap, first became a visual fixture on the sides of the football team’s helmets in 1963 under Hall of Fame coach Paul Durham.
Regarded as one of the most influential coaches in school history, Durham directed the Wildcats from 1948 to 1967. In 20 seasons, Durham rolled up a career record of 122-51-10 while leading Linfield to seven conference titles and two appearances in the NAIA championship game.
Though that version of the Wildcat logo underwent only minor cosmetic changes over the next six decades, the basic logo from the 1960s remains the recognizable symbol of all Linfield varsity athletic teams today and by extension, it has come to represent many periphery segments of campus life, too.
Linfield teams also sport one of the most unique color schemes in all of college athletics. The college adopted the current colors of Cardinal (Red) and Purple in 1917.
LINFIELD SCHOOL OF BUSINESS MASTER'S DEGREE
PROGRAM
Design & Innovation, Sport Leadership and Wine Business Leadership
Unique one-year program open to all majors
Learn to lead and manage high-performing teams
A Heritage of Confident Service
Macy & Son is in the business of helping people and meeting the individual needs of McMinnville area families for five generations.
WINTER SPORTS
With the calendar now turned to November, winter sports are now underway at Linfield.
Competition in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming, and men’s and women’s wrestling get rolling even before the fall sports seasons are completed.
Here’s a glance at the Wildcats’ upcoming home event schedules during November and December.
DATE EVENT OPPONENT TIME
Nov.
Dec. 5 Men’s Basketball Portland Bible 7 p.m.
Dec. 7 Wrestling Cal Poly Humboldt Noon
Dec. 7 Wrestling Southern Oregon 5 p.m.
THE LINFIELD SPORTS NETWORK
All LSN broadcasts, both live and on demand, can be accessed at golinfieldwildcats.com/watch or from within the Linfield Athletics app on mobile, tablet or smart TVs
The Linfield Sports Network continues to bring fans live action of all home Linfield volleyball matches in 2024. Fans can enjoy live video webcasts and play-by-play commentary on their computer, tablet, mobile device or Smart TV.
Live coverage begins 15 minutes prior to the start of each match. Broadcasts include a postgame wrap-up.
LSN live broadcasts are under the direction of Joe Stuart, the athletic department’s Broadcast Operations Coordinator.
In his fourth year in the position, Stuart oversees all technical production and management of LSN broadcasts as well as providing play-by-play commentary on football, basketball, baseball and softball webcasting in addition to assisting with other athletics communications needs.
Linfield junior Brian Kice begins his second season as the play-by-play voice of Wildcats volleyball. Kice, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, began his broadcasting experience with the LSN last season. Sophomore Eric Albios, a secondgeneration Wildcat, returns as program director for all volleyball broadcasts this fall.
brian kice
joe stuart eric albios
LINFIELD ATHLETIC BAND
The new-look band no longer marches but director Joe Ready is excited for the group’s long-range potenital
Linfield sports fans may notice a new look to the band performing at games this fall. Previously known as the Linfield Marching Band, the revitalized Wildcat Athletic Band will continue supporting Linfield’s athletic teams by performing a variety of musical tunes and bringing a fun atmosphere to events.
“The Wildcat Band is focused on musical excellence and entertaining audiences,” Ready said. “Fans and community members should expect engaging, higher quality music performances during athletic and community events.”
Leading the Wildcat Athletic Band is Joe Ready, who began at Linfield in August. Ready earned his Bachelor of Music from the University of Oregon, and Master of Music from Bowling Green State University, both in tuba performance. Prior to moving back to Oregon in 2018, Ready was an associate member with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
“The unlimited potential of what the Wildcat Band can be is what attracted me to this position,” Ready said. “I appreciate the sense of community and culture at Linfield.”
The band – currently 18 members strong – made its debut at the Sept. 7 home football game against Denison. Linfield students of all majors and skill levels are welcome to join. As a bonus, band members are eligible for up to $2,000 in scholarships and can earn paracurricular credit for participating. On average, the band rehearses five hours per week, with performances on nights and weekends during football and basketball seasons.
NEW TO LINFIELD
Aiyana Henderson played collegiately at three schools before embarking on a club coaching career that has included both indoor and beach volleyball programs
Aiyana Henderson joined the Linfield coaching staff as an assistant volleyball coach in September.
She brings experience coaching both club indoor volleyball and club beach volleyball for the past four years in Washington, California, and Oregon.
Henderson played collegiate indoor and beach volleyball at Multnomah University, Corban University, and Los Angeles Harbor College.
At Los Angeles Harbor College, she earned first team all-South Coast Conference recognition and was among the top five producers in the SCC in eight different statistical categories for indoor volleyball.
At Corban, she was a part of the 2023 Warriors team that reached the NAIA Beach Volleyball Championships before finishing as the national runner-up.
She graduated from Multnomah University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing.
The Spokane native is a graduate of Ferris High School where she competed in varsity volleyball and track and field.
AIYANA HENDERSON
LINFIELD IN THE NEWS
English major Emma Bare’s winning entry in the Frederic Fadner Critical Essay Contest will be published in an annual journal
Linfield University student Emma Bare ’25 earned international recognition from the Sigma Tau Delta international English honor society for a critical essay that she submitted for publication.
The English major from Camas, Wash., is the recipient of the Frederic Fadner Critical Essay Award. Her winning entry –“Interrogating Torture and Surveillance in J.M. Coetzee’s ‘Waiting for the Barbarians’ in a Post-9/11 Space” – applies a post-structural lens to the portrayl of torture and surveillance in the novel.
The Frederic Fadner Critical Essay Award honors the best critical essays submitted to the Sigma Tau Delta Review. As the award winner, Bare received a $500 prize. In addition, her essay will be published in the 2025 edition of the annual journal.
“I woke up and I looked at my phone and I saw something from them, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” she said. “And I looked at the first word it said, congratulations. I re-read it,
I think, like, five times. Even still, I’ll look at it again, just to make sure I’m not losing my mind.”
Originally, Bare wrote the essay for an assignment in her postcolonial literature class during her sophomore year. The next year, she took a critical methods class, in which students revise an old paper they were proud of and apply a critical lens to it. This is where the award-winning paper was born.
Bare submitted the essay to the Sigma Tau Delta Review in April and learned of the award in August.
Sigma Tau Delta is an international English honors society with over 770 chapters internationally. The organization focuses on high achievement in literature on college campuses. Students can submit original works to The Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle, which focuses on creative writing, or the Sigma Tau Delta Review, which Bare submitted to that focuses on critical essays.
Bare currently serves as chapter president of Sigma Tau Delta on the McMinnville campus.
EMMA BARE
PROUD PARTNER OF LINFIELD ATHLETICS
