Willamette Downs George Fox, 3-1, as Compton Earns another Triple-Double

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

NEWBERG, Ore. -- For the second consecutive night, Willamette University outside hitter and setter Lindsey Compton (Sr., Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford) achieved a triple-double, as she led the Bearcats to a 3-1 win over George Fox University at Wheeler Gymnasium on Saturday, Sept. 19. Willamette prevailed against the Bruins, 25-20, 24-26, 25-14, 25-22.

WU advanced its record to 6-4 on the season, 2-0 in the Northwest Conference. GFU dropped to 3-6 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

On Friday, Compton recorded 11 kills, 20 assists and 21 digs in Willamette's 3-1 triumph over Linfield. The Bearcats defeated the Wildcats, 17-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-16. On Saturday against George Fox, she contributed a match-high 19 kills to go along with 22 assists and 18 digs. She also led WU with five block assists.

Sarah Fincher (Sr., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) of Willamette supplied 16 kills and eigth digs. Kaylen Higa (Fr., LIB/DS, Mililani, HI/Punahou School) attained a match-high 26 digs, while Alexa Dowdell (Jr., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) finished with eight kills and 15 digs. Tynan Gable (So., S, Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS) provided 25 assists and 12 digs.

WU hit .257 as a team and piled up 59 kiills. Emma Liband (So., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) earned a .389 hitting percentage, while Compton hit .314 and Fincher hit .302.

George Fox was led by Erin Sprowls, who amassed 18 kills, and by Delany Cruz, who registered 14 kills and a .364 hitting percentage. Payton Shrum produced 46 assists and 11 digs. Kelsea Meyers topped the Bruins with 24 digs. GFU ended the night with 53 kills and a .164 hitting percentage.

The Bearcats build a 7-1 lead in the first set, but George Fox tied the match at 17-17 on a setting error by Willamette. After additional ties at 18-18 and 19-19, the Bearcats reeled off four straight points, starting with two kills from Compton. WU won the set, 25-20.

In the second set, the teams played through 14 ties and five lead changes. GFU eventually owned a 24-21 advantage, but three consecutive rallies went to the Bearcats. Fincher recorded the third point with a kill. Sprowls provided GFU with back-to-back kills as the Bruins took the set, 26-24.

Willamette stormed past George Fox in the third set, 25-14. The Bearcats earned 15 kills during the set and limited GFU to a .030 hitting percentage. After surging out to an 11-4 lead, the Bearcats were never seriously threatened.

The fourth set was competitive, as the teams combined for seven ties and six lead changes. WU trailed 15-11 and 16-14, but took a 19-18 lead on a combo block by Compton and Dowdell and led by two points when the next rally ended with a setting error by GFU.

George Fox countered with a 4-1 run to claim a 22-21 advantage. The Bruins did not score again, as Willamette closed out the match with three kills by Compton and a block by Compton and Taylor Lum (Jr., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS).

The Bearcats will play their next four matches at home inside Cone Field House. Willamette's homestand will begin with a match against Pacific University on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. (PDT).