TACOMA, Wash. -- Whitworth took a big step toward a second straight Northwest Conference volleyball title with a 25-22, 26-24, 25-16 win over Puget Sound on Friday night at Stadium High School.

Amanda Grumbach had 12 kills to lead 24th-ranked Whitworth (17-5 overall, 12-1 NWC) to its fifth straight win. The 23rd-ranked Loggers fell to 16-5, 8-5.

UPS took a 20-16 lead in the first set but the Pirates outscored the Loggers 9-2 the rest of the way to pick up the win. Kristine Kardell had three of Whitworth's kills in the winning rally.

UPS almost rallied to win the second set in the same way before Whitworth held on. The Pirates took a 22-18 lead on a kill by Ka'ipo Rocha before the Loggers rallied to tie the set 24-24 after a kill by Jordan Bird. But Whitworth won the next two points, including a kill by Grumbach.

After UPS pulled within 11-9 in the third set the Pirates pulled away to an easy win in the clinching set. The Bucs hit .220 as a team in that set, their highest hitting percentage of the match.

Grumbach added a match-high 19 digs to her 12 kills. Kardell finished with 10 kills and four blocks, while Kaimi Rocha added nine kills and 14 digs.

Jackie Harvey led the Loggers with 10 kills.

Whitworth plays at 22nd-ranked Pacific Lutheran (17-5, 10-3) on Saturday with a chance to clinch the 2011 NWC title with a win. The match will begin at 5:00 p.m.