NEWBERG, Ore. -- The George Fox volleyball team finished up their home schedule with a 3-1 Senior Night win over Linfield, rebounding quickly after a first-set loss to pick up their third win over the Wildcats in 2024.

How It Happened
The Wildcats started out strong in the first set, jumping out to a 9-5 lead and forcing the Bruins to play catch-up. Fox would never get closer than that four point deficit — and though the Bruins sustained a 6-1 run to cut an 11-point Wildcat lead to five, Linfield would hold on to win, 25-17.

Despite dropping the first, Fox would fight back hard in the second set — though it wouldn't happen right out of the gate. Linfield took a quick 5-2 lead before the Bruins locked in; over the next seven points, Kennedy Kibby totaled three aces and Gracie Bearden had two kills as Fox outscored the Wildcats, 7-0. The Bruins continued to take advantage of Linfield miscues the rest of the set, embarking on another 5-0 run midway through the set and going on to win, 25-16.

Once again, Linfield took an early lead in the third set, hopping out to a 5-3 lead before a four point run from the Bruins gave Fox the lead back. This time, it was a block party that helped give the Bruins the set win: Allaire Gilder, Jenna Knibbs, and Jordan Hahn all had two block assists as Fox went on to win, 25-15.

The fourth set saw the table turn, as the Bruins started quick, using three kills from Addison Robertson in the first four points to take a 4-1 lead. This time, though, the Wildcats would go down without a fight; a classic back-and-forth match between the two teams ensued as neither team led by more than two points for the final 40 points of the set. 

A 5-1 run from Fox that utilized two identical kills from Gilder looked to give Fox the momentum, but Linfield quieted the crowd with a run of their own. In the final points, Linfield appeared to take a one-point lead, 21-20, before a lengthy discussion between the officials and press row determined that the Wildcats had served out of position. Now up 21-20, Bearden decided to put the game to rest, scoring the final four kills to give Fox a 25-23 victory in the fourth set. Following the victory, the Bruins honored their three seniors: Addison Robertson, Breanna Babcock, and Addison Coulter.

Top Performances
Two players finished the game with double-doubles —Gracie Bearden led the team with 19 kills and 17 digs, while Kennedy Kibby had 17 assists and 15 digs. Addison Robertson totaled 14 kills on a .351 hitting percentage, while Addison Coulter finished with 19 assists. Jordan Hahn led the team with four blocks.

Coach's Thoughts
"Our team didn't perform our best as a whole," Bruin head coach Emily Davis said, "but we did fight back from a tough start and work really hard to push through the inconsistencies. I'm proud of our subs for stepping in and everyone being ready."

What It Means
The Bruins sit just one win away from a second straight 10-win conference season, sitting at a 9-6 NWC record and 13-11 overall mark. Linfield falls to 6-16 (3-12 NWC).

What Happens Next
Fox will conclude their regular season with a game at Lewis & Clark on Saturday, November 9 at 6:00 p.m.