Box Score

NEWBERG, Ore. - Getting back into a winning groove before Northwest Conference play begins Wednesday, the George Fox University Bruins snapped a four-match losing streak with a 3-0 win (25-18, 25-20, 25-17) over the visiting  Walla Walla University Wolves in a non-conference women's volleyball match Tuesday night here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym.

After falling behind in the opening set 6-2, the Bruins rallied for nine unanswered points, sparked by Lani Rasmussen's three service aces, to take an 11-6 advantage which they never relinquished.  Their largest lead was nine at 21-12, and they closed out the set on a kill by Sarah Crossfield.

The second set was similar, with Walla Walla taking an early 11-7 lead before George Fox battled back.  An 8-0 run that gave the Bruins a 15-11 lead included kills by Rasmussen, Crossfield, and Natalie Pickett, an ace by server Jennifer Panico, and four consecutive attack errors by the Wolves.  Their biggest margin in this set was eight at 22-14.

The Bruins never trailed in the third set, taking an early 4-1 lead and more or less swapping points with the Wolves the rest of the way.  The Bruins eventually stretched the lead to eight at 23-15 and again for the final score on a kill by Pickett.

The Bruins had their best hitting night of the season, making 37 kills and only 12 errors for a .312 percentage while holding the Wolves to a minus-.023 mark, with 23 kills and 25 errors.  Pickett and Lyndsay Hovee had 10 kills apiece to pace the Bruins, Pickett hitting .500 and Hovee .421.  Ali Lefebvre had 13 assists and Rasmussen 10, while Panico and Hovee led the defense with six digs each.  Pickett was in on four of the Bruins' six blocks, with one solo and three assists.

Natalie Wilkening led the Wolves with 11 kills and six digs, while Torrey Haddad had 14 assists and five service aces.

George Fox (6-4) hosts Pacific University Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. to start conference play.  Walla Walla (1-5) visits Cascade College Wednesday, also at 7:00 p.m.