The Pioneer volleyball team fell 28-30, 30-21, 30-28, 30-24 to the Whitworth Pirates Friday night at the Pamplin Sports Center. Katherine Fiedler had 10 blocks for the Pioneers.

After the Pirates took an early 16-9 lead in game one, the Pioneers mounted a comeback. Back-to-back kills by Katherine Fielder (freshman, San Diego, Calif.) followed by back-to-back blocks by Fielder pulled the Pioneers within two points. Fielder tied the game 19-19 on with another kill . The Pioneers took advantage of three Whitworth errors to edge out to a 23-19 lead. The Pioneers had game point, 29-25, when Whitworth mounted a rally. Back-to-back kills by the Pirates' SarahRusch and a kill by Nikki Bardewll made it a 29-28 Pioneer advantage before a Whitworth setting error earned the victory for the Pioneers.

Game two was all Pirates, with Whitworth earning a 30-21  victory.

In game three, the Pioneers tied the game 11-11 on a service ace by Leah Collins (senior, Philo, Calif.).  The Pioneers took a three-point lead, 14-11, on a kill by Cayley Rassmussen (freshman, San Diego, Calif.). The Pirates tied the game 15-15 on a service ace by Tracy Schwada. The Pirates took an 18-15 lead on an attack by setter Holly Ridings. The Pioneers tied the game 18-18 on a service ace by Andrea Chase (junior, Santa Rosa, Calif.). The two teams exchanged leads, with seven ties. With the game knotted at 27, the Pirates' Sarah Rusch put her team ahead with a kill. The Pirates held on for a 30-28 victory, closing out the game on a kill by Holly Ridings.

In game four, the Pioneers pulled within three, 25-22, with a kill by Katherine Fiedler. A kill by the Pirates Jill Solbrack put the momentum back on Whitworth's side. They held on for the 30-24 victory and the 3-1 match victory.

For the Pirates, Sarah Rusch had 19 kills with three blocks (one solo, two assisted). Tracy Schwada had 16 kills, four service aces, and two blocks (one solo block, one block assist).

For the Pioneers, Katherine Fiedler had ten blocks (nine solo and one assisted) with nine kills. Sara Kettler (senior, Dana Point, Calif.) had 12 kills with tow blocks (one solo, one assited).

With the win, the Pirates improve to 9-7 (4-4 NWC). The Pioneers fall to 6-11 (2-5 NWC).

The Pioneers are back in action on the home court Saturday night, playing an early 5pm match against the Whitman Missionaries.