Pirates Claim Third Straight Win

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Trailing 11-10 in the fifth and deciding set, visiting Whitworth University scored five straight points to win 25-15, 21-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-11 at Pacific University in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Saturday night at the Pacific Athletics Center.

After an 0-5 start to NWC play, the Pirates have won three straight to improve to 7-12 overall and 3-5 in the conference. The Boxers dropped to 7-9, 2-6.

The Pirates hit .300 as a team in the first set, pulling away from a 9-8 lead with an 8-2 run. The Pirates scored the final four points, winning on a kill by Morgan Veleke (Sr., OH, Kennewick, Wash.).

But Pacific made sure the match would go back and forth all night. The Boxers scored five of the final six points to pull away from a 20-20 tie. Freshman Alexa Block ended it with a kill.

Whitworth controlled the third set after jumping out to a quick 10-5 lead. The Pirates hit .400 as a team, finishing with 11 kills and only one error in 25 attempts.

With Whitworth leading 19-18 in the fourth set, the Boxers finished on a 7-1 run to pull it out and force the fifth and deciding stanza. Pacific hit .381 and pounded 20 kills during the set.

The final set was a mirror of the entire match - back and forth. Whitworth took a 10-6 lead after a service ace by Bree Riddle (So., S, Spokane, Wash.), but Pacific scored the next five points and took an 11-10 lead after a Pirate attack error. Whitworth called a time out, calmed the nerves and scored the final five points to win the match. Kaimi Rocha (So., OH, Pukalani, Hawaii) had a pair of kills in the final rally.

Ka'ipo Rocha (So., MB, Pukalani, Hawaii) had 11 kills and three block assists to lead the Pirates. Kaimi Rocha added 10 kills, while Veleke had nine kills and 15 digs. Randi Stephens (Jr., MB, Bozeman, Mont.) led the Bucs with eight block assists. Riddle and Jordon Hoffnagle (So., S, Spokane, Wash.) had 26 and 24 assists, respectively. Ariana Obert (So., DS, Deer Park, Wash.) led all players with 18 digs.

Block had a match-high 24 kills for Pacific, while Christina Chandler added 10 kills. Brittney Johnson had 33 assists, while Sara George dished 18 assists. Jade Thompson had 16 digs.

Whitworth will return to Oregon next weekend for Northwest Conference matches at Willamette (Friday) and Linfield (Saturday).