By: Alex Plusquellec

NEWBERG, Ore. --- The George Fox women's volleyball team returned home Saturday night looking for its fifth straight conference win as they clashed with a scrappy Linfield squad. The Bruins beat the 'Cats 20-25, 25-17, 25-21 and 25-22.

Recap

The Bruins and Wildcats fought for momentum early as the two found themselves knotted at 5-5. Ashtyn Butler and Laney Search got things going early for the Bruins, but a scrappy Linfield team hung tough, keeping pace. 

The Wildcats took a three point lead 12-9 before a couple of errors allowed the Bruins to tie things up at 12-12. Neither team was able to seize momentum until late into the set when the Wildcats put together five straight points to take the first set 25-20. 

Linfield carried over its strong play into the second set as the 'Cats grabbed an 11-7 lead. The Bruins responded, feeding off the high-energy from the home crowd. An 8-0 run led by Butler and Danyle Dupray gave the Bruins a 15-11 advantage and they never relinquished control. Back to back kills by Dupray helped the Bruins finish the set by a score of 25-17. 

In a close third set, it was the energy and enthusiasm by the home team that was the difference. Tied at 11-11, the Bruins put together another run to take control of the set at the midway point. Sophia Lawrence kept the ball alive for the Bruins with multiple digs allowing Dupray and Delaney Cruz to wear down the Wildcats' defense. The Bruins fired off kill after kill to move towards a 25-21 third set victory.  

Needing just one more set to seal the deal, the Bruins got all they could handle from the Wildcats. Luckily for the Bruins, they had Dupray on their side, who closed out the match with three of her team-high 19 kills. Leading 23-21, a kill by Butler and a block by Alyssa Burch and Stacey Kozlowski clinched the fourth set 25-23 victory and the comeback win. 

Top Performers

Dupray's 19 kills were four short of a tying her career-high (23) as the junior has racked up 81 kills in the last five conference matches. Cruz came up big tonight as well, tallying 12 kills. Lawrence's defense was a difference maker as the freshman recorded a game-high 31 digs. 

What It Means

The Bruins conference win streak has been extended to five, bringing their NWC record to 7-5 and overall at 8-8. The five straight conference wins is the second longest streak since 2009 when the Bruins rattled off seven in a row.

What Comes Next 

The Bruins will travel to Walla Walla, Washington, to battle Whitman on Oct. 27, looking to extend their NWC winning streak. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.