SALEM --- The George Fox women's volleyball team traveled to face the Bearcats of Willamette on Saturday, Sept. 28, and came up empty after a four-set bout on the Bearcats' hardwood.

Recap

The Bruins got off to a good start with a 25-19 win in the first set. After building an early 7-4 lead with kills by Bailey LeBreton and Ashtyn Butler, the Bruins traded sideouts the rest of the way and held their early edge for the six-rally win.

The Bearcats evened the match at 1-1 with a 25-14 win in set two. George Fox fell behind early in the frame, 10-5, and the Bearcat lead quickly swelled to a 17-7 advantage. Another Bearcat run put the set out of reach with a last 8-5 burst for the win.

The Bruins led early in third set, but Willamette rallied to take control with an 11-9 lead by the midpoint of the frame. A lengthy service run in the last third of the set put it away for the Bearcats with a 25-18 final that gave the home team a 2-1 edge in the set count.

An early stalemate quickly turned into another Bearcat lead in the fourth set and the Bruins were unable to stem the tide or catch up in the nightcap. A 10-8 lead swiftly grew to a 19-10 advantage, and the Bruins fell in the fourth set to end the night with a 25-18 final.

Top Performers

Sophia Lawrence notched 29 digs in the loss and Laney Search dished out 21 assists to go with a pair of service aces and four kills. Butler led the attack with 11 kills on a tidy .259 hitting night and LeBreton was just off the pace with 10 kills of her own and five blocks.

What Happens Next

The Bruins return home to prep for next weekend's slate of games against Lewis & Clark and Puget Sound.