SPOKANE, Wash. - Sarah Rusch had 21 kills to lead Whitworth University to a 30-25, 26-30, 30-22, 30-23 win over visiting Whitman College in a Northwest Conference women's volleyball match on Wednesday night, helping the Pirates break a three match losing streak.

Rusch had 21 kills to lead the Pirates

Rusch (Jr., MB, Walla Walla, Wash.) hit .385 for the Pirates (8-7 overall, 3-4 NWC) and had four blocks, while Tracy Schwada (So., RS, Whitefish, Mont.) added 11 kills, four aces and three blocks. Pirate setter Holly Ridings (Jr., Spokane, Wash.) had 42 digs to go along with eight kills and 11 digs and libero Cassie Moore (Sr., Spokane, Wash.) finished with 33 digs to lead all players.

Rosa Brey had 18 kills, 16 digs and five blocks for the Missionaries (7-8, 3-4), while Lydia Hayes added 16 kills. Leslie Compean finished with 12 kills and Kristan Brown dished a match-high 46 assists. While Kaelyn Merkel led Whitman with 25 digs, she had to move from her usual position of libero to outside hitter after the first game when Whitman starter Alex Graves went down with an ankle injury. Kelsie Butts took over as the libero.

The first game saw wide swings of momentum. After the Pirates jumped to a 4-1 lead, Whitman went on a 10-1 run to take an 11-5 advantage on a block on Brey and Compean. But Whitworth followed with its own 10-2 run, taking a 15-13 lead. Rosa Brey's kill gave the Missionaries a 19-18 lead, but the Bucs went on an 8-2 spurt to lead 26-21. Whitman got within 26-25 before the Pirates scored the final four points, winning on a kill by Nikki Bardwell.

The second game saw 10 ties through the first half of the set, the last coming at 16-16 after Whitworth's Jill Solbrack finished a kill. But Whitman took control with a 10-2 run, and led 26-18 after back to back kills from Hayes. The Missionaries won the game on a block by Brey.

After a Pirate ball handling error tied the third game 6-6, Whitworth took a 12-7 lead on an ace by Bardwell and a 16-9 advantage after a block by Solbrack. The Pirates did not lead by less than five points the rest of the game and won on a Whitman attack error.

Katie Richards gave the Missionaries a quick 4-1 lead in the final game, but the Pirates came back to take the lead 8-7 after back to back Whitman errors. Merkel's kill pulled Whitman to a 9-9 tie, but then Whitworth went on a 10-3 run to take control, led by two Schwada service aces. Holly Tomlin's kill put the Pirates ahead 27-16, but the Missionaries continued to battle, getting within 29-23 after an ace by Meg Clark. The match ended on a final attack error by Whitman.

Both teams will travel to Portland, Oregon this weekend to battle Lewis & Clark College. Whitworth will play the Pioneers on Friday night, while Whitman takes on L&C on Saturday.