SPOKANE, Wash.  The pairing of Kalli Dickey and Brooke Randall along the front line accounted for two-thirds of Whitman's kills Wednesday night, but the Blues weren't able to surpass the nine service aces and blocks from host Whitworth University in a 3-0 Northwest Conference volleyball loss to the Pirates in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Whitman slips to 1-7 overall and 1-2 within the conference, while the Pirates move to 5-6 and 2-1, respectively, with their 25-15, 25-17 and 25-11 win.

Dickey's 11 kills tied for match-high honors, tying her with Whitworth's Emiko Kahler. Randall's seven kills trailed only that pair and the Pirates' Cassandra Mendoza (nine kills).

Whitman's best of the night came when its backs were to the wall, trailing 2-0 in the match with Whitworth starting the third on serve.

Between five ties in the early going the Blues nabbed their first lead of the evening, following a kill by Randall that tied the score at 2-2 with a kill from Dickey to edge in front.

The game remained close through the next 10 points, but after a Cali Anderson kill inched the Blues to within a point at 8-7, Whitworth was able to reel off a 4-0 run to build itself enough of a cushion to hold off the final challenges from Whitman.

Two areas that hurt the Blues on the night were those nine service aces and 9.0 total blocks by the Pirates. In contrast, Whitman accumulated a pair of block assists and went without a service ace.

Anna Dawson let the team in assists with 19, while for the defense Codie Conching rang up 12 digs.

The Blues are back at home in the Sherwood Athletics Center for their next outing, a league match Saturday at 5 p.m. against Willamette University.