The Pioneer volleyball team lost a close match in Spokane Friday night, falling 30-15, 22-30, 22-30, 30-23, 17-15 to the Whitworth Pirates. Katherine Fielder had 20 kills for the Pioneers. Cayley Rassmussen had a season-high 14 kills.

In game one, the Pirates jumped to a lead of 9-3 on a kill by Sarah Rusch then led 21-8 after a kill by Holly Tomlin. Whitworth won the game 30-15 on a kill by Ridings.

The Pioneers bounced right back, winning the next two games by identical 30-22 scores with the Pioneers never trailing in either set. L&C pulled away from a 22-20 lead in the second game by finishing on an 8-2 run and winning on a kill by Katherine Fiedler (freshman, San Diego, Calif.). The Pioneers controlled the third game much sooner, opening a 23-15 lead on a kill by Cayley Rasmussen (freshman, San Diego, Calif.) and winning on another kill by Fiedler.

By contrast the fourth game saw 13 ties and seven lead changes. L&C took its last lead of the set at 22-21 on a Pirate attack error. From that point Whitworth outscored the Pioneers 9-1, winning on an L&C attack error. Whitworth benefited from 16 L&C attack errors in the game.

Like the fourth game, the deciding fifth stanza went back and forth with nine ties and three lead exchanges. L&C earned match point at 15-14 on a combined block by Fiedler and Kelsey Clark (junior, Eagle Creek, Ore.). Whitworth scored the final three points to win the match, including a kill and an ace from Ridings.

Katherine Fiedler led all attackers with 20 kills. She also had a hand in three of the Pioneers' ten blocks. Rassmussen had 14 kills, a season high for the freshman hitter. Leah Collins (senior, Philo, Calif.) logged 34 digs and two service aces.

With the loss, the Pioneers fall to 9-16 (5-10 NWC) and will have to defeat Whitman in the season finale to end the season in a tie with Whitworth for sixth place in the NWC. The Whitman match takes place Saturday afternoon at 5pm in Walla Walla to close out the Pioneers 2007 season.