WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The George Fox women's volleyball team fell 3-0 to Whitman in close games.
How It Happened
The advantage in the first set changed frequently between Fox and Whitman.
Audrey Schmitt got the first kill for the Bruins, leading to a three-point run to put the team up 3-1. Whitman scored three in a row, temporarily edging ahead; immediately following, a kill by
Eden Cha and a block by
Jordan Hahn and
Makena Phillips contributed to a three-point run for Fox to take an 8-6 lead. GFU took four of the next five points, thanks to kills by Hahn, Phillips,
Addison Goff, and
Gracie Bearden, setting the score at 12-8.
Not to be outdone, Whitman stole eight of the following nine points to put them up 13-12, with Bearden's kill breaking up the run. Fox fought back—in particular, Goff racked up two consecutive service aces, Cha recorded three kills, and
Kendall Stidham earned a kill. With Fox leading 19-18, it was still anyone's game. Unfortunately, Whitman pulled ahead and held off Fox, despite a kill by Cha, ending the set 25-21.
Bearden kicked off the second set with a kill, 1-0. Both teams traded points, featuring a block by Schmitt and Bearden. The Bruins collected three consecutive points to make the score 5-2, thanks in part to a kill by
Madelyn Gunn and a service ace by Stidham. The teams fought back and forth, with kills from Bearden and
LeAna Cimarra, until a four-point run from Whitman challenged Fox's lead, 12-10. The Bruins regained their footing with a four-point run of their own, putting Fox up 15-13. The game stretched on, while Fox worked to protect its lead. Whitman strung together three consecutive points—so did Fox, and then so did Whitman again. The teams battled to make the score 24-24, but Whitman had the last say, winning the second set, 26-24.
The final set followed a similar pattern. Fox and Whitman exchanged points until Bearden kicked off a four-point run with a kill and a service ace, which were followed by kills from
Chloe Wiersma and Hahn, making the score 6-3. Whitman capitalized on seven of the next nine points, surging forward, 10-8. Cha notched two kills, and Schmitt completed a block to keep the game close, with Whitman still in the lead 14-13. Fox continued to fight an uphill battle; Milla Hansen and Gunn racked up kills and Cimarra added a service ace. The game was tied 19-19, but Fox couldn't secure the victory, despite kills from Cha and Bearden. Whitman took the third set, 25-23.
Top Performances
Gracie Bearden and
Eden Cha led the pack with eight kills each;
Jordan Hahn and
Addison Goff each collected five.
Kendall Stidham and
Chloe Wiersma both recorded 12 assists.
Isabella Avila and
Eden Cha completed 13 and nine digs, respectively.
Audrey Schmitt and Madilyn Gunn both had solo blocks, and Schmitt, Hahn, Bearden, and
Makena Phillips each had one block assist.
What It Means
The Bruins fall to 2-10 (0-5 NWC) while Whitman advances to 6-5 (4-1 NWC).
What Happens Next
The Bruins will head to Spokane Wash., to play the Whitworth Pirates, with the game scheduled to start at 6:00 pm on Saturday, October 3.
