By: Alex Plusquellec

SPOKANE, Wash. --- The Bruins traveled north to take on the Pirates of Whitworth Friday night in an intense, back and forth match that resulted in a 3-0 loss.

Recap:
Both teams were in attack mode early as the two sides shared runs, each trying to establish a lead. The Pirates jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the first set before a kill by Danyle Dupray, an error by the Pirates and an ace by Amy Massingale brought the Bruins within one. Whitworth was able to jump back up on the Bruins 13-8, but a run by the George Fox women saw the Pirates lead erased before a kill by Massingale and a block by Sarah Davies and Massingale propelled the Bruins to a 16-13 lead. The two teams continued to exchange points, but it was the Pirates who finished the first set on a 9-3 run to take the first set 25-22. 

In set two, the Bruins got a heavy dose of attack from the Pirates. After a tight 8-7 start in favor of Whitworth, the Pirates turned it on, using a 13-4 stretch to run the score to 21-11. The Bruins tried to build off of a couple errors by the Pirates and a kill by Erin Sprowls, but weren't able to mount a comeback as Whitworth took the set 25-15. 

Set three, a lot like set one, was back and forth. Blocks by Sprowls, Massingale and Delaney Cruz helped the Bruins grab a 9-7 lead, but the Pirates responded with a quick 6-2 run to take the lead. Kills by Cruz and Dupray kept the Bruins within two, but the Pirates kept their distance taking a 22-17 lead late into the set. An ace by Hanna Kumasaka and another kill by Dupray aided the Bruins in cutting the deficit to 23-22, but two final kills by the Pirates ended the match.

Top Performers:
Danyle Dupray led the way with a game high nine kills, Sprowls had seven and Cruz added five kills of her own. Massingale was solid at the net with six blocks. Kelsea Meyers led both teams with 13 digs. 

What It Means:
The Bruins hung tough with the defending Northwest Conference Champions. They will have the opportunity to build on the performance as they look to take on Whitman.

What's Next:
The Bruins will continue their road trip as they take on Whitman tomorrow night in Walla Walla, WA. The match is set to begin at 5 p.m.