SALEM, Ore. - Jennifer Panico led a quartet of George Fox University hitters who reached double figures in kills with 13 as the Bruins kept the Willamette University Bearcats winless in Northwest Conference play with a 3-1 win (27-30, 30-18, 30-28, 30-21) in women's volleyball action Friday night here at the Cone Fieldhouse.

The opening game was a battle, as neither team led by more than five points. Willamette held leads of 18-14 and 23-18, but George Fox climbed back to within a point at 23-22 on a service ace by Elizabeth Anderson. Kelley Lindstrom and Jessica Durham combined for four kills the rest of the way, however, as the Bearcats went on 7-5 run to win the game.

George Fox was in front 9-7 in the second game when the Bruins went on a 9-2 run for an 18-9 lead, which the Bearcats were unable to overcome. The Bruins won 12 of the final 21 points and closed out the game on a kill by Jessica Morrison.

The third game featured 10 ties and seven lead changes. Willamette led 23-20 and 26-25 before the Bruins went on a 5-2 run to finish the game, ending it on a spike by Panico.

George Fox registered 14 kills in the fourth game to complete the match. The Bruins trailed 3-1, but scored five straight points, taking the lead for good 4-3 in a kill by Morrison, and never trailed again. Willamette kept the game close at 8-8 and 16-16, but the Bruins registered seven of the next 10 points to open up a 23-19 lead. George Fox added a 7-2 run to finish the game, ending the match on a kill by Whitney Kolb.

Following Panico's 13 kills were Anderson with 12, Morrison with 11, and Kolb with 10. Amy Batchelder handed out 38 assists. Four Bruins also had double-digit digs, with Batchelder garnering 20, Panico 19, Jenna Dohren 18, and Sarah Burkey 11. Anderson added seven blocks and four service aces.

Lindstrom had a match-high 18 kills and Durham added 16 for the Bearcats, while Christine Dion had 41 assists. Clare Chedester led the defense with 17 digs, Dion had 13, and Durham and Edyth Lee-Barnes had 12 each. Smith and Julie Stutzman had four blocks apiece.

The Bruins snapped a three-game losing skid with their third win of the season over the Bearcats, lifting their record to 10-11 overall and 5-9 in the conference. The Bearcats dropped to 4-19 overall and 0-13 in the league.

George Fox plays its final home match of the season next Friday, Nov. 2, at 7:00 p.m. against the 23rd-ranked University of Puget. The Bruins will recognize out-going seniors Anderson, Batchelder, Kolb, and Cassandra Woods. Willamette hosts Lewis & Clark College Saturday at 7:00 p.m.