TACOMA, Wash. - Maddie Lee's 18 kills lifted visiting Whitworth to a big 25-23, 25-19, 25-17 win at Puget Sound on Friday night, keeping the Pirates unbeaten in Northwest Conference volleyball.

Whitworth moves to 18-2 overall and 13-0 in the NWC, while the Loggers fall to 14-8 and 8-5 in the NWC.

The teams traded leads several times throughout the opening set. The set was tied at 23 until back-to-back Pirate blocks scored the last two points.  The Pirates hit .242 in the frame while UPS hit .216.

Whitworth led most of the second set until a five-point Puget Sound run gave the Loggers an 18-17 lead. The Pirates responded with a six-point run behind kills from Jaye Hodge and Cassidy Franklin. Whitworth ended the set on a block again, this time from Kaity Barr.

The Pirates led after the third point of the third frame and hit their match-best .275, while holding the Loggers to 0.026.

Whitworth totaled six blocks and six service aces in the match, three of which belonged to Barr.

Jordan Holman and Mackenzie Leith tied with eight kills apiece to power the Puget Sound offense, and Maddie Klopcic had two blocks.

Lee tallied 18 kills, as well as two blocks and a service ace for 20 points. Barr had three service aces and two blocks, and Cassidy Franklin had three blocks.  Jaye Hodge added nine kills and a .364 hitting percentage.

Whitworth travels to Pacific Lutheran tomorrow to take on the Lutes at 6pm. If the Pirates pull out a win, they will clinch the NWC title and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.