PORTLAND, Ore. — Lewis & Clark College volleyball rallied to claim the third set but fell 3-1 in its Northwest Conference home opener to George Fox University on Saturday night at Pamplin Sports Center.
 
THE BASICS
 
George Fox 3, Lewis & Clark 1 (25-11, 25-23, 22-25, 25-16)
Lewis & Clark (0-11, 0-4 NWC)
George Fox (4-6, 1-3 NWC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Juniors Kaitlyn Jensen and Isabel Meleán-Williams paced the Pioneers' attack, finishing with nine and eight kills, respectively. Jensen added three digs, a block and an assist, while Meleán-Williams contributed five digs, two aces, a block and an assist.
 
Setter Ruby Kuerschner directed the offense with a team-high 19 assists and added five service aces. The junior also contributed six kills and tied for fourth on the team with four digs.
 
At the net, juniors Christi San Diego and HB Schuett, along with senior Abigail Warrick, combined for seven of the Pioneers' 10 block assists. San Diego led the block party with three blocks, two kills and three digs. Schuett tallied five kills, three aces, four digs and two blocks, while Warrick added two kills, two blocks and a dig.
 
First-year Ariah Potts anchored the defense with a team-high seven digs. Junior setter Kenzie Edwards finished with six digs, eight assists and two aces.
 
George Fox set the tone early, hitting .323 (13-3-31) in the opening frame and using four service aces to pull away for a 25-11 win.
 
Lewis & Clark jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the second set on a stretch that included an ace from Meleán-Williams, a kill from Kuerschner, back-to-back kills by Jensen and an ace from Schuett. The Bruins rallied to take an 11-9 lead and eventually closed the set at 25-23 despite a late Pioneers push that tied the score at 23-all.
 
The Pioneers broke through in the third, earning their first conference set victory of the season. Trailing 20-14, Lewis & Clark stormed back as Kuerschner recorded a kill, paired with San Diego for a block and then served seven straight points, including four aces, to swing the momentum. Sophomore Daphne Ibrao, Schuett and Meleán-Williams each added kills during the decisive run that lifted the Pioneers to a 25-22 win.
 
The Bruins closed the match in the fourth, hitting .429 with 15 kills against just three errors. Lewis & Clark tied the set at 10-all on a Meleán-Williams kill, but George Fox outscored the hosts 15-6 down the stretch to secure the victory.
 
BY THE NUMBERS 

• Meleán-Williams hit a collegiate-best .412 (8-1-17), a night after hitting .353 at Pacific.
• Kuerschner's five aces all came in the third set; the total was the second highest of her career behind seven at George Fox during her first season.
• Lewis & Clark out-dug the Bruins 45-44, marking the second straight match the Pioneers won the digs battle.
• Senior Reilyn Sabado matched Ibrao, Kuerschner, Schuett and sophomore Ainsley Mochrie with four digs each.
• Schuett served a career-high three aces.

WHO'S NEXT
 
Lewis & Clark continues conference play Friday, Oct. 3, hosting NWC-leading Whitworth at 7 p.m. in Pamplin Sports Center. The Pirates received votes in the most recent AVCA NCAA Division III women's volleyball poll.