NEWBERG, Ore. -- The George Fox women's volleyball team battled against their rival from the southwest, Linfield, dropping the first two sets and losing the game, 3-1.
How it Happened
Addison Goff started off the points for Fox with an aggressive kill, with the assist from
Chloe Wiersma. The Bruins kept the strong start going with a five-point run— Goff again all over the board, totaling another kill and an ace to put GFU up, 6-1.
Linfield fought back, though, scoring four straight of their own, and the score lay at 12-12 before the Wildcats started to gain a lead. They quickly climbed up the board, with Fox able to sneak a few more in, but not enough opportunity or time, and Linfield picked up the first set, 25-18.
The second set was neck-and-neck the whole way. Goff hit two more kills, and
Makena Phillips contributed one to leave it at 8-8. A collection of attacking errors on the Wildcats gave Fox a 15-10 lead.
Linfield wasn't backing down and came back with four back-to-back kills, 18-18. It was a time of high tension as the points remained within one of each other. Phillips grabbed another point, as did
Gracie Bearden to cut the deficit to one, 22-21. The 'Cats offense kept pressed on the gas and kept the Bruins where they were, claiming the set, 25-21.
The third set was where Fox stepped up and continued to fight for a win. It held, yet again, with both teams trading points consistently. Tatum Montiel,
Audrey Schmitt, and Phillips each possessed hits, just two behind, 10-8.
The Bruins kept strong, five points straight, off three Linfield errors, a kill by
Jordan Hahn, and an ace by
Chloe Wiersma to give the Bruins the lead, 13-11. Fox tallied up the points, but Linfield stayed on their toes, 20-18. The Wildcats brought it to an anxiety-ridden two-point match, 24-22, before
Madelyn Gunn stayed calm under pressure and delivered the winning kill, 25-22.
By the fourth set, Linfield had worn down Fox, sticking with the high pressure. Bearden owned a kill, assisted by
Kendall Stidham, and followed with a service ace (2-2). However, the Wildcats went on a long run, scoring 17 of the next 25 points to take a nine point lead. Though the Bruins had a late five-point run, (Schmitt with the last kill to cut the lead to 21-15),tThe set closed out 25-15, the 'Cats grabbing it for the win, 3-1.
Top Performances
Madelyn Gunn and
Addison Goff led the team with eight kills.
Gracie Bearden had six kills, three service aces, and 10 digs.
Makena Phillips and
Jordan Hahn had five kills, and
Audrey Schmitt came in with three.
Kendall Stidham claimed 15 assists, while
Chloe Wiersma was right behind her with 14. Wiersma had 12 digs as well, while Hahn led the team with five blocks..
What it Means
The Bruins fall to 2-9 (0-4 NWC), while Linfield is now at 5-5 (2-1 NWC).
What Happens Next
After a Saturday off, the Bruins will face their next conference competitor in Walla Walla, Wash., on Friday, October 2nd, against Whitman at 7 p.m.
