NEWBERG, Ore. -
Kenzie Martinez and
Teia Magaoay led the way with match highs of 13 kills and 24 assists, respectively, but it was enough to stop a straight set win by George Fox over the Whitman College women's volleyball team in Northwest Conference action on Friday night. Set scores were 25-18, 25-21, 25-22.
Quinn Pulver posted a match-high five aces and Nicole Kelly added a team-best 13 kills for the Blues (3-7, 2-1 NWC) who suffered their first conference loss. The Bruins improved to 6-4 and 2-1 in conference.
Addison Robertson led Fox with 11 kills and Piper Harrop posted a match-high 17 digs.
GFU led from start to finish in its set one win. The Bruins opened up an early 7-2 lead after kills from Robertson and Kassandra Staton. Back-to-back Staton kills kept the lead at five points, but a pair of kills from Martinez and Kelly coupled by a block from Navi Islam-Zwart whittled the lead to only two points at 13-11. GFU regrouped and used a late 5-1 run to seal the first-set win.
Set two saw the Blues take control early. Lola Folk posted a kill then got in on a block to help her team to a 7-3 lead. Fox rallied and took a 10-9 lead on the heels of back-to-back Robertson kills. Double blocks from Folk and Kelly helped regain the lead for the Blues in what was turning out to be a seesaw affair. Whitman led by two points at 19-17, but saw the Bruins race away with an 8-2 set-closing run.
Set three again saw a back-and-forth competition, but ultimately with George Fox capturing the win and sweep.
The Blues next face Pacific on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m.
#GoWhitman
