NEWBERG, Ore. -
Nicole Kelly and
Kenzie Martinez both delivered double doubles,
Jamie Bartok added a match-high 20 digs but it wasn't enough as the Whitman College women's volleyball team rallied but eventually fell short in a four-set loss at George Fox in Northwest Conference on Friday night at the Wheeler Sports Center. Set scores were 25-15, 25-22, 23-25, 26-24.
Kelly and Martinez's 14 kills each were a match-high. Kelly added 15 digs, Martinez recorded 12 digs and Teia Magaoay posted 13 digs to go along with 39 assists.
There wasn't much difference in the overall stats as both teams hit below the Mendoza line and assists, aces and digs were just about even. However the Bruins did put their dominance at the net on display in nearly doubling up the Blues in blocks (20-11). Bailey LeBreton posted a match-high eight blocks and Kennedy Kibby added four of her own.
After a rough start for the Blues (3-10, 1-4 NWC) that saw them go down a set, they got on track and worked themselves back into the match. Two straight kills from Kelly and another from Martinez helped put Whitman up 10-6 early in set two. The Bruins quickly responded and, after a run that included three kills from Caitlin Nemecek, tied the score at 11-11. The score seesawed until back-to-back kills from Kelly completed a 4-0 run and put the Blues up 20-17. Whitman could not sustain the momentum however and watched George Fox respond with a 5-0 run and ultimately earn the win and two-set lead.
Sets three and four were as tight as they come and the Blues nearly rallied to send the match to a deciding fifth set. Set three saw Whitman avoid a sweep after rallying from a 16-11 deficit. Kelly got in on a block and recorded a kill as part of a 6-1 run to tie the score at 17-17. Whitman again trailed, this time by two late in the set but won five of the set's final six points to stay in the match.
Fox led early in set four but a 5-0 Whitman run evened the scoreline early in the frame. Both teams played each other neck and neck the rest of the way until kills from LeBreton and Nemecek put the Bruins up 23-20. Undaunted, Whitman rallied with three straight points of its own to tie the score, then had set point at 24-23 after a double block from Magaoay and Sophia Dominitz. That would be it for the Blues however as George Fox scored the final three points to win the set and take the match.
The Blues are back at it Saturday, Oct. 1 at Lewis & Clark. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m.
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