Box Score

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Earning a split of the season series between the two Northwest Conference rivals from Yamhill County, the Linfield College Wildcats knocked off the visiting George Fox University Bruins 3-1 (25-14, 25-13, 17-25, 25-13) in women's volleyball Friday night here at Ted Wilson Gym.

The Bruins, who defeated the Wildcats 3-1 in their first meeting on Oct. 3 in Newberg, had 36 kills but made 30 attack errors in hitting only .036 for the match.  The home team was sharper in making only 15 errors to 44 kills while hitting a .188 percentage.

The Bruins took the first lead of the opening set, but Linfield stayed close until Tara Hill stepped up to serve with the home team ahead 6-4. It was all Wildcats from there as Hill served 12 straight winning points for an insurmountable 18-4 Linfield lead.  A pair of kills by Sarah Crossfield highlighted a 5-0 run that brought the Bruins back to 18-10, and another Crossfield winner cut the Linfield lead to 20-13, but the Bruins would get no closer.  Samantha Lau's ace and a George Fox attack error ended the set.

Lau opened set two with her second ace of the night, but the Bruins responded by taking a four-point lead at 7-3 on an ace by Lani Rasmussen. Hill once again sparked a Wildcat rally from the service line, serving eight straight winning points as Linfield jumped ahead 12-7.  The Wildcats continued to pull away until consecutive aces by Meghan Flink concluded the set.

George Fox would not go down easy, however, as the Bruins quickly took a 7-1 lead in the third set, fueled by a pair of kills from Jennifer Panico and Natalie Pickett. The Wildcats climbed back within one at 13-12 after back-to-back Bruin attack errors, but a putaway by Panico halted the Bruins' slide and enabled the visitors to regain control and pull away again.  The Bruins out-scored the Wildcats 11-5 from that point on, a Lyndsay Hovee kill finishing off the set.

After four early ties in the fourth set, the Wildcats broke a 6-6 deadlock on a kill by Emily Vuylsteke and began building a lead which they would not surrender. Linfield closed out the match with an ace by Hannah Veley and a kill by Lau for the final two points.

Crossfield was the only Bruin in double figures in kills with 10, while Hovee added nine in only three sets.  Ali Lefebvre passed out 21 assists.  Panico led the defense with 22 digs, Jenna Dohren added 18, and Hovee and Ashley Sheller had 11 apiece.  Jessica Morrison had three block assists in the Bruins' four team blocks. 

Three Wildcats reached twin digits in kills, with Vuylsteke notching 13, Lau 12, and Hill 10.  Stephanie Purser set her team up with 38 assists.  Rachel Rahn had a match-high 24 digs, Lau added 19, Flink dug 14, and Purser chipped in with 10.  Kelsey Habura had three block assists of the Wildcats' five team blocks.

George Fox suffered its fourth straight defeat and dipped below .500 for the first time this season at 11-12 overall, with a 5-8 mark in conference play.  Linfield improved to 11-6 overall and 7-6 in the NWC.

The Bruins, who have completed the road portion of their schedule, begin a three-game season-ending home stand Saturday when they host the Lewis & Clark College Pioneers at 7:00 p.m.  The Wildcats, who were playing their final home match, go to Pacific University Saturday, also at 7:00 p.m.