Bearcats End Pirates' Three Match Win Streak

SALEM, Ore. -- Whitworth University could not overcome the hot hitting and hot serving of host Willamette University in Northwest Conference volleyball action on Friday night as the Bearcats defeated the visiting Pirates 25-20, 25-17, 27-25.

Whitworth saw its three-match winning streak come to an end as the Bucs fell to 7-13 overall and 3-6 in the NWC. Willamette improved to 6-11, 3-6 after sweeping the season series against the Pirates.

Tracy Schwada (Sr., Whitefish, Mont.) led Whitworth with eight kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Kaimi Rocha (So., Pukalani, Hawaii) added seven kills, but also had seven hitting errors. As a team Whitworth hit .182. Bree Riddle (So., S, Spokane, Wash.) and Jordon Hoffnagle (So., S, Spokane, Wash.) had 12 assists each.

The Pirates scored two straight points to pull within 20-18 in the first set. But Willamette outscored Whitworth 5-2 the rest of the way to win the opener.

Willamette jumped to quick leads of 6-1 and 10-3 in the second set and the Bearcats were never threatened, while hitting .333 as a team.

Whitworth opened the third set by taking a 9-2 lead after a kill by Rocha. But Willamette battled back to take a 15-13 lead, forcing a Pirate timeout. The teams played closely until the Bearcats jumped ahead 24-21 looking to close out the match. Whitworth fought off four match points until Willamette finally ended the match after consecutive errors by the Bucs.

Willamette hit .326 as a team in the match and pounded 10 aces. Molly Blankenship led all players with 12 kills.

Whitworth will look to split the weekend road trip when the Pirates play at Linfield College on Saturday evening.