FOREST GROVE, Ore. — Despite dropping a close first set, the George Fox Women's volleyball team rallied back against Pacific to secure a commanding 3-1 victory, their first conference win of the season.

How it Happened
George Fox opened the game with three straight kills, setting the tone for an electrifying first set. However, Pacific responded with an ace and three kills of their own; the set quickly transformed into a seesaw battle for points. The Bruins battled hard late in the game with kills from Taylor Dekoning and Addison Taylor which leveled the scores at 23-23, but eventually dropped the set, 23-25. 

The second set started in similar fashion, with both teams trading points early in the game. However, Fox jumped out to a 23-18 lead when back-to-back kills from Kassandra Staton were followed by two kills by Dekoning. The Bruins maintained this momentum, clinching the second set 25-19 to level the scores. 

The third set was dominated by an impressive offensive display from the Bruins, who racked up nine straight points to jump out to a 10-1 lead. From there, they commanded the set, with Deborah Chun recording three aces en route to an empathic 25-10 win that saw them take the lead, 2-1.

George Fox brought the same offensive energy to the fourth set, setting the pace with a slew of early kills. Pacific fought hard, tying the scores four times in the set, before Staton delivered two final kills to claim victory for the Bruins, 25-19. 

Top Performers
Kassandra Staton led the Bruins offense, with 23 kills on the day. Fellow senior Kennedy Kibby was also impressive, recording 42 assists. On defense, Piper Harrop collected 19 digs, while Olivia Jacobsen led the team with three blocks. 

Coach's Thoughts
"We had a great game offensively tonight," Bruin head coach Emily Davis said, "It was a great team effort. Kibby put up some great balls for our attackers and it was fun to watch our team stay together."


What It Means
George Fox picked up their first conference win and now sit at 5-3 (1-0 NWC) for the season, while Pacific falls to 4-5 (0-1 NWC). 

What Happens Next
Fox will look to capture their third straight win this Saturday, as they travel to Tacoma, Wash. to take on Puget Sound at 6:00 p.m.