SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Whitworth Pirates picked up a pair of wins at the Trinity University Fall Volleyball Classic on Saturday, defeating Whittier College 3-0 and Mary Hardin-Baylor 3-1.

Whitworth bounced back from a rough Friday at Trinity to finish the tournament 2-2 and improved to 5-3 this season.  The Pirates will open Northwest Conference play at home next weekend by hosting George Fox and Pacific (Ore.).

After a close first set , Whitworth steadily pulled away from Whittier for a 26-24, 25-21, 25-14 victory.  The Poets rallied from five points behind to tie the opening set 24-24.  But Brenna Bruil and Corinne Bell finished that frame with consecutive kills to give the Bucs the win.

Cassandra Mendoza had 11 kills and Lauren Budde chipped in with nine kills to lead the Pirates' offense.  Erin White dished 30 assists, while Bruil finished with five service aces and a pair of blocks.  Whittier dropped to 2-6 with the loss.

The Pirates closed out the tournament with a 25-12, 20-25, 26-24, 25-15 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor, handing the Crusaders (5-2) only their second loss of the season.  Trailing 21-19 late in the pivotal third set, Whitworth rallied to take a 24-22 lead after consecutive kills by Emiko Kahler.  UMHB scored the next two points to tie the set, but Budde and Bell closed out the set in Whitworth's favor with back to back kills.

Whitworth had a strong match at the net, finishing with a .285 team hitting percentage, including a hot .394 mark in the third frame.  Mendoza had 14 kills to lead four Pirates in double figures.  Bruil had 12 kills and was in on seven blocks, Kahler finished with 11 kills and 16 digs and Budde had 10 kills and was part of five blocks.  White finished with 47 assists on Whitworth's 54 kills.