NEWBERG, Ore. — Lewis & Clark College volleyball fell 25-20, 25-18, 25-14 to George Fox University on Friday evening at Wheeler Sports Center in a Northwest Conference matchup.
 
THE BASICS
 
George Fox 3, Lewis & Clark 0
(Lewis & Clark 0-18, 0-11 NWC)
(George Fox 6-12, 3-9 NWC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Juniors HB Schuett and Katilyn Jensen each posted seven kills to pace the Pioneers. Schuett hit .357 (7-2-14) and added three digs and a service ace, while Jensen chipped in four digs and one assist.
 
Setter Ruby Kuerschner distributed 23 assists, added seven digs, and tallied two kills. Junior outside hitter Isabel Meleán-Williams finished with six kills on .250 hitting and one block.
 
First-year defensive specialist Izzy Faulkner notched a career-best six digs and two aces, and junior middle blocker Christi San Diego contributed five kills on .188 hitting with one block. Senior libero Reilyn Sabado (four), sophomore Ainsley Mochrie (five) and first-year libero Ariah Potts (three) combined for 12 digs in the back row.
 
Lewis & Clark opened the first set strong. After splitting the first two points, the Pioneers scored four straight, capped by a Schuett service ace, to lead 5-1. They maintained the advantage early before George Fox took its first lead at 14-13. Lewis & Clark stayed within one point late, trailing 20-19, but the Bruins closed on a 5-1 run to claim the set. Schuett led the way with four kills and a .600 hitting percentage in the opening frame.
 
In the second set, Lewis & Clark erased an early 7-3 deficit with a five-point service run from Faulkner that included an ace and kills by Meleán-Williams and San Diego to move ahead 11-9. The Bruins later regained control on a long service run by Chloe Wiersma, who delivered four aces during a nine-point stretch to secure the 25-18 win.
 
George Fox continued to apply pressure in the third set, recording six aces and hitting .219. The Bruins limited Lewis & Clark to a .029 mark despite two kills apiece from Jensen, Meleán-Williams, San Diego, and Schuett. A 10-5 George Fox run midway through the set put the Bruins ahead 15-10, and an attack error on match point sealed the sweep.
 
BY THE NUMBERS 

• Schuett's seven kills marked a career high.
• Meleán-Williams has hit .250 or better in four of the past five matches and six of the last nine.
• The Pioneers hit .440 (14-3-25) in the first set and held a 41% sideout rate.
• Kuerschner's 23 assists were a season best.
• Lewis & Clark out-dug George Fox 42-37.

UP NEXT
 
Lewis & Clark returns home Saturday to host Pacific University at 7 p.m. inside Pamplin Sports Center for Homecoming Weekend.