TACOMA, Wash. -- The George Fox women's volleyball team competed at Puget Sound for their first road Northwest Conference game, coming out with a tough 1-3 loss against the Loggers. 

How It Happened
The first set between George Fox and Puget Sound was a battle on both sides of the net. It started off with a point from the Loggers, but the Bruins were quick to answer with a kill from Jordan Hahn, another by Allaire Gilder, and an ace from Gracie Bearden to put Fox ahead, 4-1. Puget Sound was unfazed, though, getting kills of their own to tie the set, 4-4. From then on, it was a back-and-forth between GFU and UPS. One team would gain an advantage — such as a huge block from Jenna Knibbs — only for it to be taken away by the other team. After a smashing kill by Bearden, Isabella Avila kept the energy going with two aces of her own, 11-10. The battle continued, but the Loggers were able to pull away, going on a 5-0 run to turn the tide — and despite the Lady Bruin's determined defense, they lost the set, 17-25.

Puget Sound used their first set win to come out swinging, earning the first three points of the second set. Despite this, the Bruins retaliated with a five-point run of their own; they effectively used the errors of the Loggers, Gilder and Knibbs each had a kill of their own, and Gilder finished their run with an ace, 6-4. The Loggers came back to tie the set and even gained an advantage (11-14), but they weren't ready for the storm GFU was about to bring. Bearden had an incredible three aces in a row, and while UPS tried to stop the Bruin's rally with a timeout, George Fox came out to a score another three points thanks to a kill from Knibbs, a block from Gilder and Lexi Baer, and yet another ace from Bearden, 18-14. Puget Sound tried to come back, but the damage was done. After another block from the wall of Gilder and Knibbs as well as an ace from Knibbs, the Lady Bruins secured the win, 25-20.

Mikaila Kronholm was clearly still amped up after the second set win, coming out strong with an ace. After a kill from Baer and another ace by Kronholm, the score was set in GFU's favor, 3-0. The Loggers — despite their loss in the set before — were undeterred and retorted dominantly. They were able to come back and tie the set 4-4, and continued to score. While the Bruins attempted to fight back, Puget Sound was determined and went on a five-point run, 11-18. George Fox was able to score just three more points before the Loggers went on another run to end the set, 14-25.

Both teams came out in the fourth set ready to battle it out for the win. UPS got the first two points of the set, but GFU responded with three points of their own, 3-2. The rest of the set was an intense back-and-forth over the net, each team not relenting. After a kill from Hahn to make the score 7-6, Puget Sound went on a five point run to gain the upper-hand, 7-11. The Bruins didn't back down though; their defense remained strong and Bearden, Baer, and Kronholm slowly started to close the distance in the score on the offensive end, 18-20. After some crucial errors made by the Loggers and more kills by Baer and Hahn, the score was 22-23. The Lady Bruins tried to hold the Loggers, but UPS was unyielding and came out on top, 23-25, to win the set and the game, 1-3. 

Top Performances
Gracie Bearden had quite the night with eight kills, five aces, and 12 digs. Lexi Baer led GFU in kills with 14 while also having two block assists. Jessica Knibbs had seven kills, two solo blocks, two block assists, an ace, and 13 digs. Mikaila Kronholm was the team's main setter and had 21 assists along with two aces, while Chloe Wiersma followed with 11 assists. Isabella Avila had two aces along with Allaire Gilder. 

Coach's Thoughts
"I was proud of how our team competed tonight," Bruin head coach Emily Davis said," we had some awesome moments and we have a new standard of play to look forward to."

What It Means
The Bruins are now 3-5 overall (0-2 NWC) and the Loggers rise to 5-5 overall (1-0 NWC).

What Happens Next
George Fox will play next against the Pacific Lutheran Lutes (3-5, 1-0 NWC) on Saturday, September 20. The game is scheduled to start at 6:00 pm.