SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth survived five match points in the fourth set, but could not repeat in the fifth as visiting Pacific Lutheran held on for a 25-13, 19-25, 25-13, 25-27, 15-11 win over the Pirates in a wild Northwest Conference volleyball match on Friday night.

Whitworth (12-5 overall, 6-3 NWC) dropped consecutive Northwest Conference matches for the first time since 2018.  The Lutes (9-7, 5-4) continue their rebound from an 0-3 conference start.

PLU dominated the opening set, jumping to a 5-1 lead, then stretching the margin to 10-4 on a kill by Baylee Johnson.  The Pirates got back within 12-9 on a block from Ella Jimenez and Logan Spencer and were still within 14-10 after a kill from Jimenez.  The Lutes finished the set on a 9-3 run, holding Whitworth to a -0.024 hitting percentage in the frame. 

The Pirates rebounded in the second set, taking their own 5-1 lead on a kill from Amblessed Olemgbo.  Jaye Hodge's service ace increased the margin to 16-8 and her kill put the Bucs at set-point (24-16).  The Lutes scored three straight points before Okemgbo's kill ended it in Whitworth's favor.  Maddie Lee had four kills in the second set.

The Pirates appeared in control in the third set, taking a 10-5 lead on a block from Cassidy Franklin and Logan Spencer.  PLU answered with a 9-0 run, including a pair of aces from Liv Evaro and ending on a Johnson kill for a 14-10 Lute advantage.  Leading 16-13, PLU closed on another 9-0 run that included four Whitworth attack errors.  The Pirates had another negative hitting percentage (-0.074) in the game.

The fourth set featured nine ties and six lead changes.  PLU used a 4-0 spurt to take a 17-13 lead and then stretched the margin to 21-16 on a kill from Elle Thomas.  The Lutes led 24-20 after an ace from Breeze Bartle.  But Whitworth survived four straight match points, tying the set 24-24 on a Lute error. PLU served for the match again at 25-24, but the Pirates scored three straight points to pull out the fourth game.  Jimenez had five kills in that set for Whitworth.

The Pirates took the momentum into the fifth set with a 5-1 lead after another kill from Jimenez.  PLU surged back to go ahead 10-9.  Whitworth took its final lead at 11-10 before the Lutes finished on a 5-0 run for the win.  Haley Iha's block at match point won it for PLU.

Jimenez had 17 points for Whitworth on 12 kills, eight block assists and one ace.  Franklin scored 13.5 points with 11 kills and five block assists, while Lee also had 11 kills.  The Pirates hit a season-low .062, but stayed in the match with 14.0 team blocks, tying a season-high.

PLU served 15 aces in the match, four by Halle Hetzler and three each from Elle Thomas and Evaro.  Thomas added 12 kills for a team-high 15 points.  Johnson also had a dozen kills for the Lutes, who hit .125 as a team.

Whitworth will have to rebound quickly.  The Pirates host first place Puget Sound on Saturday night.