McMINNVILLE, Ore. – The chase for a second consecutive Northwest Conference volleyball championship just got more difficult for Whitworth after the Pirates were upset for the second night in a row, this time by a 3-1 score at Linfield on Saturday night.

The host Wildcats won 25-21, 12-25, 25-20, 25-22 to improve to 5-10 overall and 2-4 in the NWC.  Whitworth dropped to 10-5, 4-2 one night after losing at Pacific (Ore.).

All of the stats appear to be in the Pirates' favor.  Whitworth had more kills (45-40), had a higher team hitting percentage (.164 - .094), had more team blocks (7.0 – 2.0) and had more digs (72 – 68).  But much of those advantages in statistics were built in a dominating second set.

Otherwise the upstart Wildcats made the key plays down the stretch to win the other three sets.  Whitworth was within 22-21 in the first before Linfield scored the final three points.  An almost identical scenario played out in the deciding fourth set as well.

Brenna Bruil had 12 kills and four block assists to lead the Pirates, while Nicole Leonard added 11 kills and 18 digs. 

Darian Stedman and Jamie Talbo each had 10 kills apiece to lead Linfield.

Whitworth now trails Willamette (6-0 NWC) by two matches and Lewis & Clark (5-1) by one game in the conference standings.  After a non-conference match at Lewis-Clark State on Wednesday night, the Pirates will host Willamette on Friday and Lewis & Clark on Saturday next weekend.