NEWBERG, Ore. – The Bruins matched up against the Whitman Blues on senior day, a close match with back and forth action, and their work paid off with a 3-2 win, a perfect end to honor their sole senior,
Gracie Bearden.
How it Happened
Fox kicked off their Halloween game celebrating senior day for their outside and right-side hitter,
Gracie Bearden.
Chloe Wiersma started the Bruins off for their points, totaling an ace. Bearden was feeling the fuel for her senior night, two kills followed by a service ace put Fox up 7-2.
The Blues crept up, tying up the game, 12-12, but Fox kept them at their heels, staying ahead.
Audrey Schmitt helped them extend the distance with two kills, 17-14. Whitman got to 20 while the Bruins stayed at 18, but Freshman
Eden Cha,
Hannah Huffman, and
Jordan Hahn finished it off, all assisted by
Kendall Stidham, 25-21.
Fox was all over the second set, dominating throughout. The Blues held the lead the first three, but Schmitt broke that short streak with a hit, 4-3. Wiersma tallied two assists, 7-5. Stidham was active yet again, dishing to
Addison Goff twice and Huffman to double the score, 12-6.
Cha passed to Bearden to move to 23-13. Cha held two kills for the final 25-19, Fox claiming the second set, 2-0.
The third set was a close one, points consistently traded back and forth. Cha was there again, two kills sourced from Goff and Bearden (6-3). The offensive presence on both sides was strong, each team moving up one point, before the other followed suit, 18-18.
Hahn and Schmitt tied it up again, 21-21, but attack errors put the Blues within one (24-21). Fox almost came back, Goff completing a kill from Wiersma and a Whitman error, but couldn't keep it going, Whitman taking the third set, 25-23.
The tables turned in the fourth set, Whitman being the dominant one. It was a low scoring set for Fox, staying at six points while the Blues moved up by four, 12-6. Makena Philips, Cha,
Madelyn Gunn, and Bearden all totaled kills to get Fox up to 12, but the Bruins failed to record consecutive points in a 25-12 loss.
Each side possessed two sets going into the final one, and it was a wanted win - an action packed fifth set. Bearden found an ace, as Wiersma passed to Cha, another success, 9-4. The Blues cut the lead, not letting up to move it closer to 13-12. Goff wasn't going to settle, another kill, and Bearden was on the board again, a kill putting Fox up by two and winning the final set, 15-13 — a storybook ending to GB19's senior day.
Coach's Thoughts
"It was really fun to see our team fight for a win in a tough match," Bruin head coach
Emily Davis said, "We have been focusing on how we play at the end of games and tonight was a great testament to all of that hard work. Really proud of all of Gracie's accomplishments and happy we get to give her a great memory on her senior night."
Top Performances
Eden Cha led with 17 kills and 17 digs.
Addison Goff was next with 13. Senior
Gracie Bearden had 11, as well as 14 digs and a team-high three aces, while
Audrey Schmitt hit 10 kills and notched four blocks.
Chloe Wiersma showed out with a career-high 30 assists,
Kendall Stidham following with 20.
Isabella Avila had 17 digs.
What it Means
Fox's record moves to 6-15 (4-10 NWC) while the Blues adjust to 10-10 (8-6 NWC).
What Happens Next
The Bruins will play their last home game for the regular season, against Lewis & Clark on Tuesday, November 3rd at 7 p.m.
