SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — After two tough losses on Friday, the George Fox volleyball team bounced back with a strong 3-0 victory over Hamline on Saturday to end their road trip on a positive note.  

How It Happened
The first set began with a back and forth that saw the score tied until about the 10-point mark, at which point Hamline opened up a five point lead.  However, the Bruins rallied late in the set, utilizing two service aces from Taylor DeKoning and two kills from Kassandra Staton to score six unanswered and claim victory, 25-21 

The Bruins once again started off even with Pipers before falling behind early, trailing 14-7 at one point. After a Hamline flurry, Kennedy Kibby responded with two kills and one ace as Fox scored six unanswered to get back within reach. Both teams battled valiantly into extra points, with an Olivia Jacobsen kill giving the Bruins a 29-27 set victory.  

Looking for a clean sweep, the Bruins looked to set the pace early in the third and maintain the lead.  After exchanging blows for most of the set, the Bruins took a late lead that translated into a 25-22 victory and the 3-0 sweep.    

Top Performers
Kassandra Staton led the Bruins on offense once again, collecting 12 kills, while Emily Blagg and Taylor DeKoning recorded eight and seven kills respectively.  To aid the offensive effort, Kennedy Kibby recorded 32 assists to keep the offense rolling.  On defense, Olivia Jacobsen recorded five blocks, while Piper Harrop recorded 21 digs to keep the ball in the air.     

Coach's Thoughts
"We battled hard," Bruin head coach Emily Davis said, "Hamline gave us a great match. That comeback in the second set was huge and I'm very proud of our team for working through fatigue and pulling out the win."

What It Means
The Bruins improve to 1-2 on the season, and look to continue to gain momentum as they return to Oregon for the Oregon Trail Classic next weekend. Hamline falls to 1-1 on the year.

What Happens Next
The Bruins return to the court against Wells in the Oregon Classic, which is hosted by Pacific and will begin in Forest Grove next Friday.