FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Whitworth is no longer unbeaten in the Northwest Conference volleyball standings and Pacific (Ore.) is no longer winless after the Boxers upset the visiting Pirates in five sets on Friday night at the Stoller Center.

Pacific knocked off Whitworth 22-25, 25-22, 28-26, 17-25, 15-11 to improve to 3-9 overall and 1-4 in the NWC.  The Pirates fell to 10-4, 4-1.

Whitworth was able to win the opening set 25-22 despite the fact that Pacific had 12 kills in the frame to only nine for the Bucs.  But Whitworth benefitted greatly from seven Boxer service errors in the set.  A kill by Karina Lees ended the set in the Pirates' favor.

The Boxers bounced back to win the second set 25-22 by claiming the final four points, including two kills by Ciara Smith.  Smith had four kills in the frame for Pacific and the Boxers had 14 kills to only eight for the Pirates.

Pacific pulled out a tightly fought third set 28-26, despite six kills in the set by Lees.  Trailing 23-20 Whitworth came back to force extra points, but Hannah Herbert's kill ended the stanza in Pacific's favor.

The Pirates appeared to take control in the fourth set with a 25-17 win, scoring the final seven points in a row.  Cassandra Mendoza exploded for seven of Whitworth's 17 kills in the set.

But it was the young Pacific squad that played with the most confidence in the decisive fifth set, winning 15-11.  Whitworth had ten kills to only seven for the Boxers.  But the Pirates had four hitting errors, two service errors and one setting error.

Mendoza had a match-high 18 kills to lead Whitworth, while Nicole Leonard finished with 13 and Lees had 11 off of the bench.  Maddye Dinsmore dished 61 assists and Mallorie Schoesler added 25 digs – both totals match-highs.

Marie Rewick and Morgan Mendicino each had 11 kills for Pacific and Smith had 10.

Whitworth will try to bounce back on Saturday night at Linfield.