By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

NEWBERG, ORE. -- George Fox University received 20 kills, a .421 hitting percentage and seven total blocks from Tiffany Burk, as the Bruins defeated Willamette University, 3-1, at the Wheeler Sports Center on Saturday, Oct. 6. GFU lost the first set before prevailing, 17-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-20.

With the Northwest Conference win, George Fox advanced its record to 7-8 overall, 5-3 in the NWC. Willamette moved to 4-11 overall, 2-6 in the NWC.

Willamette was paced by Carly Hargrave (Jr., MH, Happy Valley, OR/Clackamas HS), who earned 15 kills and a .429 hitting percentage. She also contributed four total blocks. Madisyn Leenstra (Sr., OH/MH, Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) achieved 11 kills and 15 digs.

Setter Emily Compton (Jr., Portola, CA/Portola HS/Boise State Univ.) supplied the Bearcats with 39 assists and eight digs. Kathy Lee Glenn (Sr., Murrieta, Ca/Vista Murrieta HS), Willamette's libero, provided 19 digs.

Burk, a sophomore middle blocker, led all players with her 20 kills and was one of three Bruins to reach double figures. Erin Campbell tacked on 18 kills, while Lucy Capron produced 12 kills. Payton Shrum earned 48 assists for GFU.

Willamette held an edge in hitting percentage, as the Bearcats finished at .182 and George Fox ended the match at .168, but the Bruins led in kills, 56-47. George Fox also registered an advantage in digs with 78 compared to 67 for Willamette.

The Bruins gained a net of eight points on service aces and errors. GFU claimed three service aces and just one serving error, while WU amassed four service aces and committed 10 serving errors.

Both teams had success on defense at the net. Willamette attained 12.0 team total blocks with three block solos and 18 block assists. George Fox claimed 8.0 total blocks on two block solos and 12 block assists.

George Fox tallied the first four points of the match, but the Bearcats scored the next five points. Neither team led by more than two points until WU took a 17-14 advantage on a combo block by Hargrave and Kirsten Brehmer (Jr, MH/OPP, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen HS). WU extended the lead with a service ace by Compton.

The Bruins cut the lead to 18-15 before Willamette reeled of three consecutive points to take command of the set. The points were scored on a kill by Hargrave, a service ace by Leenstra and an successful attack by Brehmer. WU went on to win the set, 25-17.

In the second set there were seven ties before George Fox won three consecutive rallies for an 18-15 margin. Willamette achieved the next point on a kill by Hargrave, but GFU answered with another 3-0 run for a 21-16 edge. The Bruins took the set, 25-19.

The third set featured 10 ties and three lead changes with the final tie occurring at 14-14.

GFU broke the tie with a kill by Burk and eventually took an 18-15 lead. Willamette pulled within a single point four times, including 21-20 following an attacking error by the Bruins. Willamette couldn't get the equalizer. A serving error by Waltz and a service ace by Capron started a 4-0 run as George Fox won the set.

A quick start in the fourth set gave George Fox leads of 6-2 and 12-9. Willamette pulled within 13-12, but was unable to tie the score. The Bruins responded with a 7-4 run for a 20-15 edge on their way to a 25-20 win.

Willamette is scheduled to host NWC rival Linfield College at Cone Field House on Friday, Oct. 12. Match time is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).