The Pioneers dropped a heartbreaker to the George Fox Bruins,
falling 30-21, 24-30,
21-30, 30-21, 18-16 Saturday night at the Pamplin Sports
Center. Katherine Fiedler had 15 kills and five blocks.
In game one, the Bruins broke open a close game, taking a
10-10 tie and turning it into a 19-12 lead. The Pioneers pulled
within three, 20-17, on a kill by Sara Kettler (senior, Dana Point,
Calif). The Bruins took advantage of seven Pioneer errors to close
out the game with a 30-21 victory.
In game two, the Pioneers came back to life, jumping out to a
13-4 lead. The Pioneers extended their lead to te, 25-15 before the
Bruins began their comeback. The Bruins managed to hold off the
Pioneers on four game points before a Kelsey Neussl (junior,
Kodiak, Alaska) kill closed out the game for the Pioneers, 30-24.
In game three, the Pioneers once again built a large lead,
21-12, closing out the game on a kill by Nicki Smith (senior, Brea,
Calif.) for a 30-21 victory.
Game four was a battle between the two teams. The game knotted
19-19, the Bruins scored four straight on three Pioneer errors and
a kill by Amy Batchelder to take a 23-19 lead. The Bruins held on
for a 30-21 victory.
With the match knotted, the two teams headed to the deciding
15-point fifth game. A Elizabeth Anderson ace gave the Bruins a 6-1
lead in the early going of the game. The Bruins extended their lead
to seven, 10-3, when the Pioneers rallied back. Fueled by kills by
Cayley Rassmussen (freshman, San Diego, Calif.) and Katherine
Fiedler (freshman, San Diego, Calif.), the Pioneers first cut the
lead to three, 10-7, when the Bruins got a side-out on a Pioneer
error. After a Bruin attack error, the Pioneers were serving once
again, and the rally continued. The Pioneers pulled within one,
11-10, on a Bruin attack error. The Bruins got another side out,
holding a 12-10 advantage. The Pioneers got the serve back
and tied the game 12-12 on a kill by Kesley Clark (junior, Santa
Rosa, Calif.). The Pioneers took a 13-12 lead on an ace by Jessamy
Holland (sophomore, Honolulu, Hawaii). The Pioneers were serving
match point, 14-12, when kills by Elizabeth Anderson and a Pioneer
attack error knotted the game at 15. With the two teams exchanging
points, the PIoneers were serving with the score 16-16. A kill by
Elizabeth Anderson and a block by Natalie Pickett gave the Bruins
the 18-16 game win and the 3-2 match victory.
For the Bruins, Elizabeth Anderson had 16 kills and five blocks
(two solo, three assisted). Jennifer Panico had 12 kills and 23
digs. Jessica Morrison had 15 kills. Amy Batchelder had 14
digs and 43 assists.
For the Pioneers, Sara Kettler had 16 kills with three solo
blocks. Katherine Fiedler had 15 kills and 5 solo blocks. Lara
Smith (senior, Vashon Island, Wash.) has 13 digs and 44 assists.
With the win, the Bruins imrove to 7-4 (2-2 NWC). The Pioneers
fall to 5-9 (1-3 NWC).
The Pioneers head to McMinnville next Friday, September 29 to
take on the Linfield Wildcats. Can't make it to the match? You can
LISTEN LIVE to the action on our streaming media partner
sportsjuice.com. The match begins at 7pm.
