NEWBERG, Ore. – In a critical Northwest Conference women's volleyball match that was closer than the final set count would indicate, the Whitworth University Pirates fought off the George Fox University Bruins 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-23) to stay in conference contention Saturday night here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym.

Whitworth entered the day one game behind the league-leading University of Puget Sound, which was hosting Willamette University later in the evening.  The Pirates improved to 13-6 overall and 10-2 in the conference with the win, while the Bruins dropped to 9-13 overall and 4-8 in the NWC.

In the opening set, the Pirates jumped out to a 6-2 lead with a 5-0 run that featured two kills and a block by Kaimi Rocha, and extended it to 15-9 on a kill by Amanda Grumbach before the Bruins came back.  Led by Isabel Valentine, who had a kill and three block assists, and Betsy Wilhelm with two kills and two block assists, the Bruins took off on an 11-2 tear to move ahead 20-17.  Back-to-back kills by Grumbach bought the Pirates a 21-21 tie, and after 23-23 and 24-24 scores, a winner by Ka'ipo Rocha and a Bruin attack error gave the visitors the first set.

The first 60 percent of the second set was tight as there were nine ties up to 15-15, and neither team held more than a three-point lead, and that only once (Whitworth at 14-11).  A 4-0 run, capped by a Ka'ipo Rocha kill, gave Whitworth control at 19-15, and they went up 24-18 on a spike by Randi Stephens.  The Bruins scored three straight points on a kill and a block by Cassie Irwin and a Pirate attack error to narrow the gap before Kaimi Rocha put one away to seal the deal.

George Fox took an early lead of 9-6 in the third set on a solo block by Valentine, but Whitworth came back for a 10-10 tie.  The Pirates then built three-point leads twice at 15-12 and 19-16, only to see the Bruins come back each time for ties at 16-16 and 20-20.  Kills by each of the Rocha sisters and a service ace by Grumbach gave the Pirates a 24-20 lead, but the Bruins made a run with a kill by Valentine and two by Amanda White.  Ka'ipo Rocha kept another tie from happening, however, with a final kill.

Irwin and Valentine had seven kills apiece to lead the Bruins, who hit .091 (34-23-121).  Ali Toedtemeier passed out 29 assists and moved past current assistant coach Gina (Coolen) Kluver into ninth on the Bruins' all-time list with 1,822.  Defensively, Patti Reeves made 20 digs and Carley Johnson 10, while Valentine had two solo blocks and five block assists as the Bruins posted nine as a team.

Kaimi Rocha led all hitters with 12 kills and Grumbach added 11 for the Pirates, who hit .136 (42-25-125).  Bree Riddle contributed 37 assists.  Grumbach led the defense with 15 digs, and Jordon Hoffnagle and Whitney Santos had 10 each. 

NEXT:  George Fox visits first-place and 24th-ranked Puget Sound Friday at 7:00 p.m. ... Whitworth hosts Pacific University Friday at 7:00 p.m.