By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Whitworth University won the first two sets, then held off a rally by Willamette University, as the Pirates downed the Bearcats, 3-1, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Friday, Oct. 31. The Pirates prevailed, 25-14, 25-20, 19-25, 25-23.

The win improved Whitworth to 18-5 overall and to 11-2 in the NWC. The Pirates are tied with Pacific Lutheran University, also 11-2, for first place in the conference. Willamette fell to 11-11 on the season, including 6-7 in the NWC.

Cassandra Mendoza of Whitworth tied Alexa Dowdell (So., MH/OPP, Mililani, HI/Maryknoll HS) and Sarah Fincher (Jr., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) of Willamette for match-high honors with 15 kills apiece. The Pirates also received 14 kills from Nicole Leonard and 10 kills from Brenna Bruil.

Willamette fell behind 8-4 at the start of the first set, but battled back within 8-7 following a Whitworth attacking error, and within 10-8 after a kill by Taylor Lum (So., MH/OH, Honolulu, HI/Maryknoll HS). Whitworth countered with an 8-0 run, including a kill and a solo block from setter Maddye Dinsmore.

Fincher recorded a kill to end the run and cut the margin to 18-9, but the Bearcats were unable to recover. The Pirates won the first set, 25-14.

The Bearcats carved out a 7-4 advantage in the second set, including two kills by Emma Liband (Fr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) and one kill from Dowdell.

Whitworth tied the score at 8-8, and the teams were tied a bit later at 11-11. The next three points were provided to the Pirates by Dinsmore on a kill and two service aces. Shawna Korshavn tacked on a kill to give Whitworth a 15-11 edge.

Dinsmore followed with a serving error, as Willamette pulled within three points, but the Bearcats never got closer. The Pirates built a 20-13 lead on their way to a 25-20 win. Whitworth hit .371 with 16 kills during the second set.

Willamette responded with 19 kills and a .357 team hitting percentage in the third set. Even so, the set was tied eight times, including 11-11 after a kill by Leonard.

The Bearcats earned the next two points on a kill by Riley Fawcett (So., OH, Normandy Park, WA/John F. Kennedy HS) and a kill by Liband. After Whitworth blocked an attack to pull within 13-12, Willamette ran off three consecutive points -- all on kills -- to take a 16-12 advantage.

Whitworth cut the deficit to a single point at 16-15, buy the Bearcats never lost the lead. Willamette eventually took a 21-16 lead on a kill by Dowdell and went on to win the set, 25-19.

The fourth set was tied at 9-9, before Whitworth moved in front with a kill by Leonard. The Pirates also scored the next three points to take a 13-9 lead. Later, Whitworth held a 17-12 advantage before Willamette rallied to get within one point at 18-17. The Bearcats also reduced the margin to one point at 20-19 and 23-22.

A kill by Bruil increased Whitworth's lead to 24-22, but Dowdell responded with a kill of her own to keep the match going. A solo block by Korshavn resulted in the final point, as the Pirates took the fourth set, 25-23.

Whitworth received a stellar game from Dinsmore, who finished with 46 assists, four service aces and 12 digs. She also recorded five kills and a .455 hitting percentage. Mallorie Schoesler produced 25 digs, while Leonard added 14. The Pirates registered 9.0 team total blocks, including one block solo and four block assists by Bruil.

Dowdell earned a .364 hitting percentage for the Bearcats, while Liband hit .333 and achieved eight kills. Peyton Wahl (Fr., LIB/DS, Richland, WA/Richland HS) contributed a match-high 27 digs, while Dowdell supplied 11 digs.

Lindsey Compton (Jr., OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford) and Tynan Gable (Fr., S, Woodinville, WA/Woodinville HS) each earned 21 assists for Willamette.

The Bearcats will take on Whitman College on Saturday, Nov. 1 in Walla Walla, Wash. Match time is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PDT).