Salem, OR - Willamette volleyball returned home on Friday looking for their second conference win but lost in three close sets to George Fox University, 25-21, 25-21, and 25-23.  

The Bearcats took an early 4-2 lead in the first set before the Bruins battled back to take an 8-5 lead.  Willamette would tie things up at 11-11 before George Fox pulled away again, eventually taking the first set 25-21.

The Bruins got off to a hot start in set two, winning the first seven points and eventually leading 13-1.  Willamette made a furious comeback to pull within two points, 22-20, but would eventually drop the second set by the same score as the first.

In set three it was the Bearcats' turn for a strong start, leading 5-0 and 6-1.  They would extend that lead to seven at 16-9 before the Bruins would win eight straight points and take a 17-16 lead.  Again the set would go back and forth before GFU would close out the match 25-23.

Olivia Cadien led Willamette in kills with 9, followed by Caroline Jameson with 7 and Emalia Freitas with 5.  Cadien also led the team in digs with 9, followed by Katey Cramer and Alayna Hughes with 8.  Leina Chu led in assists with 23.

The Volleyball team is off the rest of this weekend and travels next weekend to Eastern Washington to face Whitworth University on Friday, October 4th, and Whitman College on Saturday, October 5th.