Box Score 

SPOKANE, Wash. - Three Whitworth University hitters combined for 39 kills, leading a balanced offense that carried the Pirates to a 3-1 victory 22-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-21) over the visiting George Fox University Bruins in a Northwest Conference volleyball match Friday night here at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The Bruins took the opening set behind seven kills by Jennifer Panico.  Whitworth's Bree Riddle served two aces early to help the Pirates take a 8-2 lead, but George Fox made a slow comeback and tied it up 12-12 with two kills each from Panico and Natalie Pickett. The teams traded points until Pickett and Sarah Crossfield blocked a Pirate attack to give George Fox a 21-20 edge. Crossfield hammered down two more kills to give the Bruins control, and Panico ended the set with another winner.

The Pirates bounced back early in the second set and grabbed a 7-3 lead.  Lyndsay Hovee led the Bruins with three kills as they rallied within two at 9-7, but Whitworth never surrendered its lead. Ka'ipo Rocha dominated the net with four kills and three blocks and Riddle served another ace as the Pirates made two 7-2 runs to even the match.

The third set was a back-and-forth contest with 11 ties.  Kaimi Rocha had three kills, and three timely blocks by multiple Pirate players helped Whitworth take a 24-22 lead. One more Crossfield kill gave the Bruins a last chance, but an attack error ended it in Whitworth's favor.

The fourth set proved to be just as close as the third, with five ties through the first half.  A kill by Holly Tomlin broke a 14-14 tie and gave Whitworth the lead for good, though the Bruins stayed close throughout.  Leading only 22-21, the Pirates secured the set and match on a Bruin service error, an ace by Alli Giusti, and a kill by Nikki Bardwell.

Panico led the Bruins on offense with 14 kills and Hovee added 13.  Defensively, Panico and Sarah Burkey contributed 14 digs each, and Hovee added 10.  Ali Lefebvre had 26 assists.  Pickett was in on four of the Bruins' seven blocks.  George Fox hit .144 against the Bucs.

Bardwell paced the Pirates with 16 kills, Kaimi Rocha had 13, and Ka'ipo Rocha added 11. Riddle contributed four service aces and 27 assists, and Jordan Hoffnagle added 22 assists.  Bardwell had 15 digs and Bethany Castilleja 13.  The Bucs hit .225 in the match.

Both teams play again Saturday at 5:00 p.m., George Fox (11-10, NWC 5-6) visiting Whitman College and Whitworth (12-11, NWC 5-6) hosting Pacific University.