TACOMA, Wash. --  Despite a strong defensive effort, the George Fox Women's volleyball team lost their first match in five games on Friday night, falling to Pacific Lutheran Lutes, 3-1. 

How It Happened
The two teams traded blows for the entire first set, with neither team able to extend the lead beyond two points. Back-to-back kills from Olivia Jacobsen late in the set saw Fox move ahead, taking a 24-22 lead; after a series of attack errors, Fox eventually dropped the set, 26-24.

The Lutes got off to an explosive start in the second set, quickly jumping out to a 7-0 lead. The Bruins battled back with two unanswered kills and two aces to move back within three, but were unable to gain the lead and Pacific Lutheran pulled away – claiming a 25-17 victory. 

However, it was Fox that took the momentum in the third set, clinching the game with their own 25-17 win. Impressive kills from Taylor DeKoning and Emily Blagg gave the Bruins an early 4-1 lead, and from there they displayed both offensive and defensive dominance to keep the match alive.

Fox continued to build on their momentum early in the fourth set, before a slew of unanswered points saw the Lutes level the scores, 10-10. From there, the Lutes put together a string of six kills and despite two late blows delivered by Addison Robertson, Pacific Lutheran was able to put the match away, claiming the set, 25-18. 

Top Performers
Kassandra Staton led the way on offense for the Bruins with 12 kills, while Kibby Kennedy recorded 26 assists in another solid performance. On defense, Piper Harrop recorded 41 digs, while Olivia Jacobsen finished with 2 blocks on the day.        

Coach's Thoughts
"Tonight was a tough match," Bruin head coach Emily Davis said, "PLU played lights out and had amazing defense. We made an uncharacteristic amount of errors on offense, which made it difficult to win! I'm looking forward to our next match up."

What It Means
The Bruins fall to 9-6 overall and 5-3 in conference play, while Pacific Lutheran improves to 9-7 (8-0 NWC).      

What Happens Next
The Bruins look to regain momentum in their matchup against Willamette on Saturday, October 7 at 7:00 p.m. in Salem, Ore.