SPOKANE, Wash. - Linfield College used a key run late in the pivotal third game to turn a potential upset loss into a 28-30, 30-25, 30-28, 30-22 win at Whitworth University in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Saturday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The Wildcats (13-8 overall, 8-4 NWC) got 24 hills and three blocks from Katelyn Baker to end a two match losing streak. Emily Vuylsteke added 12 kills and three blocks, while Kelsey French finished with 10 kills and 15 digs. Stephanie Purser finished with 43 assists and 13 digs, while Rachael Rahn dug 22 balls.

Moore finished with 16 kills and 28 digs

Sarah Rusch (Jr., MB, Walla Walla, Wash.) led the Pirates (10-11, 5-7) with 18 kills and four blocks and Cassie Moore (Sr., OH, Spokane, Wash.) contributed 16 kills and a match-high 28 digs. Holly Ridings (Sr., S, Spokane, Wash.) dished 45 assists and dug 15 balls.

The opening game saw 17 ties and six lead changes. Whitworth took its largest lead at 21-18 after a kill by Nikki Bardwell (Jr., OH, Colville, Wash.), but Linfield came back to take a 24-22 lead on a Pirate attack error. The final tie came at 28-28 before Whitworth won on a kill by Moore and a Linfield error.

The Pirates led the second game 11-5 before the Wildcats went on an 18-3 run to take a 23-14 lead after back to back kills by Lisa Brocard. Linfield won the game on a kill by Vuylsteke.

The match turned on a late series in the third game. Whitworth took a 24-19 lead after a couple of kills by Rusch and a Wildcat error. But Linfield rallied to tie the game at 25-25 on a kill by French and then won the game 30-28 on Baker's kill.

Whitworth tried to hang with Linfield in the fourth game, taking a 17-15 lead on a kill by Moore. But the Wildcats took control with a 9-1 run, going in front 24-18 on a block by Molly Taylor and Brocard. Baker's kill ended the match with a 30-22 win in the fourth and final set.

The Pirates will travel to Tacoma next weekend for match at Puget Sound (Friday) and league-leading Pacific Lutheran (Saturday). Linfield continues on the road at Lewis & Clark next Friday night.