SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth's balanced offensive attack overcame a strong blocking effort by Pacific Lutheran as the Pirates defeated the visiting Lutes, 25-18, 31-29, 26-24, in a key Northwest Conference volleyball match played Friday night at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The Bucs (11-5 overall, 8-1 NWC) moved one game ahead of the four-time NWC champion Lutes (13-5, 7-2) in the conference standings and remain tied with Puget Sound for first place. UPS won at Whitman in four sets on Friday night.

Four players reached double figures in kills for Whitworth, which ended a nine-match losing streak to PLU. The strong offense was enough to overcome the Lutes' 11 team blocks - a season high for a Pirate opponent in a three-set contest.

Whitworth pulled away from an 11-11 tie in the first set with a quick 6-2 run, led by a pair of kills from Ka'ipo Rocha, and Whitworth ended the set at 25-18 on a kill by Amanda Grumbach. The Lutes helped the Pirates by committing 10 errors in the set and finishing with a -.094 hitting percentage.

But PLU found its offensive groove early in the second set, jumping ahead early 8-4 on a kill by Beth Hanna and extending the lead to 15-10 on a Pirate attack error. Whitworth got within 21-19 on Ka'ipo Rocha's service ace, but another kill by Hanna took PLU to set point at 24-20. Whitworth then scored five straight points, including a pair of kills from Brynn DeLong, and appeared on the brink of a stirring finish. But the Lutes fought back to tie on a kill by Missy DeWalt. The teams then exchanged leads two more times before Whitworth finally won the set 31-19 on a dump by Bree Riddle.

After that heartbreaking loss, PLU appeared emotionally drained early in the third set and Whitworth took advantage. The Pirates jumped to a 15-5 lead after consecutive kills by Riddle and a Lute error. But then it was the defending champions' turn to rally, pulling to within 20-18 on a kill by DeWalt, and then tying the set 22-22 on a kill by Erin Bremond and again at 24-24 on a kill by Kelsie Moore. But Whitworth regrouped, then closed out the match on consecutive kills by Kaimi Rocha.

Kaimi Rocha and DeLong each had 11 kills for the Pirates, while Grumbach and Ka'ipo Rocha added 10 kills each. Riddle dished 42 assists and Whitney Santos led all players with 25 digs.

Hanna led PLU with 11 kills, 17 digs and four blocks. Moore added eight kills and nine digs, Sarah Beaver had 26 assists and Bremond finished with a match-high five blocks.

After posting a 35-match NWC winning streak that stretched over three seasons, PLU has now dropped two of its last three conference contests. The Lutes will look to stem the tide at Whitman on Saturday night.

(Courtesy of Whitworth Sports Information Office.)