SPOKANE, Wash. – Despite a strong rally in the third set, the Whitworth University volleyball team fell to No. 19 St. Benedict 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-23) in the nightcap at the Whit Classic in the Whitworth Fieldhouse on Friday. Whitworth falls to 2-4 on the season, while St. Benedict remains undefeated at 7-0.

A St. Benedict attack error gave Whitworth the first point of the evening, but the Blazers hit back-to-back-to-back kills to claim the lead. Sophomore Nicole Leonard tallied her first kill of the match to pull the Pirates within one point. The Pirates regained possession after a St. Benedict error, but could not capitalize, as service errors plagued the Pirate servers all set. Six of Whitworth's 11 service errors came in the first set alone. Seniors Kristine Kardell and Jalana White hit back-to-back kills to tie the set at 12-12, but the Blazers scored the next four points to put what proved to be enough distance between the teams. A Whitworth service error gave the Blazers the first set, 25-17.

St. Benedict allowed Whitworth to tie the second set twice, at 1-1 and 2-2, but the Blazers remained in control of the set overall. Service errors continued to plague the Pirates, as any time Whitworth was able to put together a run, a service error turned the ball back over to St. Benedict. Whitworth used a block by senior Briauna Stadeli and Jalana White to pull within four points, 20-16, but St. Benedict slammed three kills in the final six plays to claim the second set 25-17.

Entering the third set down 2-0 for the match, the Pirates came out firing as Whitworth jumped out to a 2-0 lead on kills from junior Tori LaBrie and Nicole Leonard. The set saw three lead changes and seven tied scores. Whitworth put together an 8-3 run that featured kills from Kardell, Stadeli and sophomore Maddye Dinsmore, as well as a block from Stadeli and Dinsmore, that pushed the Pirates in front 12-7. St Benedict used an 8-3 run of its own to tie the score 15-15. Though the Blazers pulled ahead, Whitworth continued to play, tying the set again a 22-22 on a Jalana White kill, but St. Benedict claimed the 25-23 victory on back-to-back kills.

Whitworth hit .089 for the match with three team blocks and 32 kills. St. Benedict capitalized on Whitworth's 11 service errors, hitting .200 for the match and claiming three aces as a team.

Jalana White led the Pirates with a match-high 12 kills, nine digs and a block. Kristine Kardell had nine kills while senior Whitney Santos had 15 digs.

Lexi Alm and Lexi Rinde led St. Benedict with 10 kills each. Alm also had a match-high two aces, while Laura Schmitt had a match-high 16 digs.

Whitworth opens the final day of the Whit Classic against St. Benedict at 10:00 am on Saturday.  At the end of the first day of competition, St. Benedict remains undefeated. Whitworth and Whitman went 1-1, while St. Scholastica is 0-2 at the Whit Classic.