Willamette Outlasts George Fox in Five Sets behind Fincher's 20 Kills

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University won the first two sets against George Fox University at Cone Field House on Saturday, Sept. 27, but the Bruins won the next two sets to tie the match. The Bearcats prevailed in a battle for the fifth set to gain a 3-2 victory in Northwest Conference action. Willamette won 25-17, 25-23, 20-25, 20-25, 15-13.

The Bearcats improved to 7-6 overall, including 2-2 in the NWC. George Fox dropped to 2-12 on the season, 1-32 in the NWC.

Sarah Fincher (Jr., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) achieved 20 kills to lead the Bearcats. She also contributed 11 digs and three block assists.

GFU was led by Erin Campbell, who finished with a match-high 23 kills. She also led all players with 23 digs and five service aces.

A kill by Fincher gave WU a 6-5 lead in the fifth set, and the Bearcats stayed in front the rest of the way. Taylor Gee (Sr., MH/OH, San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo HS) added a kill to to create a 7-5 edge. Willamette won three of the next four points -- two on kills by Alexa Dowdell (So., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) -- to claim a 10-7 lead.

WU led 11-8 following a kill by Taylor Lum (So., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS), but GFU used a kill by Campbell and an attacking error by the Bearcats to pull within 11-10.

Campbell served next, but the ball hit the net to give WU another point. Kylee Adderson of GFU answered with a kill on the next rally, leaving WU with a slim 12-11 lead. Fincher tacked on a kill and Delany Cruz countered with a successful attack for the Bruins. Fincher supplied another kill to put the Bearcats up 14-12.

An attacking error by the Bearcats cut the lead to 14-13. Gee ended the match with a kill from the middle of the net on an assist by Lindsey Compton (Jr., OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford).

Willamette surged out to a 2-0 lead with strong play in the first two sets. In the opener, the Bearcats took a 3-0 lead and never trailed. WU hit .333 during the set with 16 kills and four errors on 36 attacks. The Bearcats built an 11-3 lead and also held a 13-7 advantage.

GFU managed to pull within 17-14 on a kill by Adderson, and cut the lead to three points two more times, before WU used a 5-0 run to complete the set. Four of the five points were earned on kills by Lum, Dowdell, Gee and Fincher.

The second set featured 11 ties and six lead changes. After WU led 9-4, the Bruins went on a 10-5 run to tie the score 14-14 on a kill by Campbell. Fincher scored next on a kill, but George Fox tallied two points to move back in front. A kill by Dowdell tied the set at 16-16, and the teams were tied every two points through 23-23.

A combination block by Dowdell and Gee on an attack by Cruz put Willamette in front, 24-23. Dowdell tacked on a kill for a two-point win.

George Fox got back in the match with back-to-back 25-20 wins in the third and fourth sets.

In the third set, GFU claimed a 15-10 lead on a kill by Adderson. WU moved within 16-13 on a kill from Fincher, but the Bruins responded with three consecutive points for a 19-13 margin. The Bearcats outscored the Bruins 7-6 over the remainder of the set, but couldn't overcome the deficit.

Willamette trailed 5-4 in the fourth set but scored six points in a row for a 10-5 advantage. GFU went on a 10-4 run for a 15-14 lead. A bit later, the Bruins were in front 20-17, before WU scored on a kill by Gee.

Two attacking errors by the Bearcats increased the George Fox lead to 22-18 and the Bruins added three of the next five points to force a fifth set.

For the match, GFU earned 64 kills and hit .188, while Willamette recorded 58 kills and hit .170. The Bruins committed nine serving errors, while the Bearcats had four. GFU also made two more attacking errors than the Bearcats.

Fincher was joined in double figures for the Bearcats by Dowdell, who achieved 12 kills and 16 digs. Peyton Wahl (Fr., DS/LIB, Richland, WA/Richland HS) provided 20 digs, while Compton registered 47 assists and 13 digs.

Campbell was one of four Bruins with more than 10 kills. Adderson and Cruz each earned 14, while Erin Sprowls added 12. Payton Shrum had 55 assists.

Willamette will remain at home for two NWC matches next weekend. The Bearcats will host Whitworth University on Friday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. (PDT) and will take on Whitman College on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. (PDT).