By: Alex Plusquellec

FOREST GROVE, Ore. --- On Friday night, the George Fox women's volleyball team traveled to Pacific looking to start conference play 2-0. What they got was a five set thriller and their first conference loss at the hands of the Boxers.  

Recap:

The Bruins began the first set aggressively, grabbing an early 6-3 behind two kills by Delaney Cruz. With a 12-10 lead, Acarey Rosa's service ace and Alyssa Burch's two kills powered the Bruins to an 8-2 run. Cruz finished the set with two more kills and the Bruins took set one 25-17.

The Boxers picked up the first three points of the second set to take an early lead. Kills by Burch and Danyle Dupray brought the Bruins back to give them a 6-5 advantage, but the Boxers kept it close. Up 12-11 the Bruins found their groove, extending their lead to 20-15 behind Cruz and Dupray. Laney Search put the finishing touches on the second set with an ace to give the Bruins a 25-19 victory. 

Despite snagging a quick 3-1 lead, the Bruins spent the third trying to mount a comeback. Search and Dupray tallied kills to keep the Bruins close, but this time it was the Boxers who went on a match deciding run, rattling of six straight points to take a commanding 18-9 lead. A couple of kills by Stacey Kozlowski cut into the lead but the Boxers were able to take set three 25-14. 

Set four was full of runs by both teams. The Boxers started first, starting off with a 5-2 lead. The Bruins returned the favor as Kozlowski and Ashtyn Butler went one an 8-0 run nearly by themselves to give their team a 10-5 advantage. The Bruins and Boxers continued back and forth before Pacific tied the set 16-16 and put together another momentum-shifting run to take the set 25-21 and tie the match at two sets apiece. 

In the deciding set, the Boxers again started with a lead. Trailing 5-2, Burch and Dupray brought the Bruins giving them the lead 7-6. Search picked up two big kills to keep the set tied 10-10 but again it was the Boxers who made the plays needed. Pacific completed the comeback with a fifth set victory, 15-13.

Top Performers:

Dupray led the way with a team-high and season-high 16 kills. Cruz was the only other Bruin with double-digit kills with 10. Sophia Lawrence was stellar, tallying 28 digs.

What It Means:

The Bruins lose a class match, bringing their overall record to 2-3 and NWC record to 1-1. 

What Comes Next:

The Bruins are back home on Sept. 22 as they host the Puget Sound Loggers at 7p.m.