SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitman College came away with the edge in digs and blocks over league leader Whitworth University but the host Pirates were able to overcome the plucky Missionaries in a 3-0 Northwest Conference volleyball victory Wednesday evening in the Whitworth Field House. Whitman's Cherokee Washington led all players in digs with 20 while teammate Natalia Zea was a defensive presence at the net, closing her night with four blocks.

The Missionaries (4-13, 2-9 NWC) owned leads against Whitworth (15-6, 9-2) in both the second and third games. Each time, though, the Pirates were able to rally for a win, ending the match by scores of 25-18, 25-18 and 25-20.

The best chance for Whitman to steal a game came in the third when it raced out to an early lead and parlayed that momentum into a 10-7 advantage. Whitworth steeled itself against the Missionary attack, however, and ran off seven consecutive points to take hold of the game.

Whitman didn't go quietly, rallying back from a 20-15 deficit with four straight points. 

Brooke Randall knocked down a kill to start the streak followed by a block shared by Zea and Anna Dawson. A Pirates setting error handed over the third straight point and then Zea threw up a brick wall near the right antennae to record a commanding solo block that pulled the Missionaries within a point a 20-19.

Five of the next six points would fall Whitworth's way, allowing the hosts to escape with the game and match win.

Abby Seethoff and Megan Henry spearheaded Whitman's attack at the net with eight and seven kills, respectively.

Washington posted a career night on the floor and she gained help doing the dirty work down low from Codie Conching (12 digs), Dawson (8) and Seethoff (8). That quartet helped lead Whitman to a 57-50 edge in digs during the match.

In addition to Zea's solo block and trio of block assists, Whitman's 6.0–3.0 blocking advantage was aided by a solo block from Shae Kanakaole and three block assists from Dawson.

Next up for Whitman is a Saturday league match at George Fox University.