SPOKANE, Wash. - Visiting University of Puget Sound overcame a tough loss in the first game at Whitworth University to roar back and defeat the Pirates 28-30, 30-23, 30-26, 30-22 in a Northwest Conference women's volleyball match on Friday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The 20th-ranked Loggers improved to 9-5 overall and 4-1 in the NWC, while the Pirates fell to 7-6, 2-3.

Schwada had a career-high 15 kills

The match looked like it might end up a thriller after Whitworth pulled out the first game. UPS broke away from a 10-10 tie to lead 20-15 after a service ace by setter Jamee Fred. But the Bucs responded with an 8-2 run to go up 23-22. Whitworth eventually led 28-25 on a kill by Jill Solbrack, and won on a Logger service error.

UPS regrouped to jump out to a large early lead in the second game. Lindsey Denman's service ace gave the Loggers an 8-1 edge, and another ace by Kelsie Telge made the score 13-3. The Pirates climbed back to within 16-11 on an ace by Tracy Schwada, but Puget Sound scored the next five points and led 21-11 after Monica Groves' kill. Whitworth did fight back again to within 27-23 on a kill by Sarah Rusch, but the Loggers scored the final three points and won on a kill from Natalie Monro.

After three early lead changes, the third game again saw Whitworth trying to play catch-up. UPS grabbed a 16-10 lead on a combined block from Denman and Groves before Whitworth pulled within 20-18 on a kill by Solbrack. Despite getting within 25-24 on a Logger attack error, UPS kept the Pirates at bay and finished the game with a block by Stephanie Harvey and Kalli Kamphaus.

Whitworth grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the final game, but then the Loggers took control with an 11-3 run and never trailed again. UPS eventually extended the lead to 23-11 on a kill by Kamphaus. The Pirates managed to get within 28-22 after a couple of aces by Rusch, but that was as close as they could come to UPS.

Groves led all players with 24 kills (hitting .340) and she added five block assists. Monro came off of the bench for 14 kills and Denman chipped in with 13 kills and 12 digs. Fred dished 62 assists and Rachel Gross had 23 digs.

Schwada had a career high 15 kills to lead Whitworth and added four block assists. Rusch had 11 kills, while Cassie Moore had a match-high 34 digs. Holly Ridings finished with 39 assists, 15 digs and two solo blocks.

Whitworth will take on Pacific Lutheran Saturday at 5:00 p.m. The NWC-leading Lutes swept Whitman College in Walla Walla on Friday night. Puget Sound will travel to Whitman to play the Missionaries on Saturday.