MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Despite a strong effort from the Wildcats, Linfield University was swept 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-22) by George Fox in Northwest Conference action on Saturday night at Ted Wilson Gymnasium. The loss drops Linfield to 4-11 overall and 1-8 in NWC play, while George Fox improves to 9-8 overall and 6-3 in the conference.
Linfield fought hard throughout the match, pushing the Bruins in every set, but timely plays by George Fox ultimately sealed the Wildcats' fate. George Fox hit .218 as a team, while Linfield finished with a .128 hitting percentage.
The Wildcats started the first half on a strong note, battling to a 13-10 lead behind three kills from both
Araeya Watanabe and
Marina Erosa. After a George Fox timeout, the Bruins started to figure out their offense and fought back to win the set 25-21.
In the second set, George Fox controlled much of the tempo, building an early lead and holding off Linfield's attempts to rally. Watanabe continued to be a bright spot for the Wildcats, finishing the match with a team-high 10 kills on 25 attempts, hitting .240. However, Linfield struggled with consistency, committing five attack errors that allowed the Bruins to extend their advantage, taking the set 25-20.
The third set saw Linfield battle fiercely to extend the match. The Wildcats showed resilience, led by strong defensive efforts from
Paige Richards (11 digs) and
Pi'ilani Hirahara (4 digs). Erosa added nine kills, keeping Linfield within striking distance. The set featured six lead changes and 12 ties, as Linfield fought to gain momentum. Ultimately, George Fox's balanced attack proved too much, as the Bruins closed out the match with a 25-22 victory.
Alongside Watanabe's double-digit kills, Erosa provided offensive support with nine kills. Linfield setter
Kanoe Contreras led the team with 11 assists, while Hirahara and Richards anchored the defense with a combined 15 digs.
George Fox was led by Addison Robertson, who tallied seven kills on .400 hitting, and Gracie Bearden, who added seven points to the Bruins' total.
NEXT
Linfield will look to rebound when they face Pacific on Tuesday for another conference matchup in Ted Wilson Gymnasium.
