SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth opened defense of its Northwest Conference volleyball championship with a 25-21, 25-13, 19-25, 25-17 win over visiting George Fox Friday night, thanks in large part to the efforts of last season's NWC Player of the Year.

Kaimi Rocha led the Pirates (6-4 overall, 1-0 NWC) in kills and digs, while adding three aces.

The visiting Bruins (5-5, 0-1) were not intimidated despite four freshmen in the starting line up. George Fox grabbed an 8-4 lead in the opening set on a kill by Betsy Wilhelm and eventually stretched that advantage to 16-10 on a kill by Stephanie Kerr. But Whitworth then took control, outscoring the Bruins 15-6 the rest of the set and winning after three consecutive George Fox attack errors.

GFU was hot again at the start of the second set, grabbing a 5-1 lead after a kill by Kerr. However the tide quickly turned on an 11-2 Whitworth run that included three consecutive aces by Rocha. Once they had the momentum the Pirates never let it go, winning 25-13 on a kill by Bree Riddle.

However the Bruins did not fold coming out of the break, instead they streaked to an 8-0 lead, a run that included a kill and two blocks by Kerr. Erin Campbell's kill stretch the advantage to 12-2. Campbell, one of the first-year Bruins, would go on to post five of her team-high 13 kills in the set. Whitworth rallied to within 24-19 on one of Jordan Hoffnagle's four aces, but got no closer.

The teams traded point for point in the fourth set and Cassie Irwin's kill pulled the Bruins into a 14-14 tie. But then Whitworth got hot again, outscoring George Fox 11-3 the rest of the way. Kristine Kardell had three of her kills during the winning rally to spark the Pirates.

Whitworth hit .238 as a team, led by Rocha's match-high 14 kills. Kardell finished with 11 kills and Ka'ipo Rocha and Jalana White had seven kills each. Kaimi Rocha also led the Pirates with 13 digs, while Amanda Grumbach was in on four blocks. Riddle dished 38 assists for the Bucs.

Campbell's 13 kills led GFU. She was the only Bruin to reach double figures as Kerr finished with eight kills. Kerr also added four blocks. Freshman setter Mackenzie Teigen had 22 assists and led her team with 16 digs. The Bruins hit .100 as a team.

Coming Up: Whitworth will continue Northwest Conference play at home against on Saturday night against Pacific (Ore.) at 5:00 p.m. George Fox travels to play at Whitman on Saturday.