SPOKANE, Wash. – Trailing two-sets-to-one and behind 13-10 in the fourth set, Whitworth appeared in serious danger of losing its first Northwest Conference volleyball match of the season to visiting Willamette on Friday night.  Instead the Pirates outscored the Bearcats 30-4 the rest of the way to pull out a five-set win.

Libero Taylor Miche sparked the dominating stretch with two long serving runs that included several aces to help Whitworth improve to 13-2 overall and 5-0 in the NWC with a final score of 25-16, 25-27, 23-25, 25-17, 15-1.  Upstart Willamette dropped to 2-11, 1-4.

Head coach Kati Bodecker had an important message for her squad during the fourth set time out, trailing 13-10.

"I told them that we don't have a perfect answer," she said afterwards.  "The outcome of this match is out of our control as coaches, but it is still in your control as players.  You can make it happen, but you have to play well together and you have to give me more."

Cassidy Franklin got the comeback started with three kills in a 5-1 run that gave Whitworth a 15-14 lead.  Miche took over behind the service line and fired ten serves in a row over the net during a 9-0 run.  Two were service aces and many of the rest took Willamette out of its offensive system.  After the Bearcats stemmed the tide with three straight points, Ella Jimenez ended the set with a kill.

Bodecker made the easy decision to start out with Miche serving the fifth set.  She served the first nine points on the way to a 15-1 fifth set.  Four of the first five points were aces.

"We just needed one person to step up and take the game over tonight," Bodecker said.  "I had no idea who it would be, but Taylor really came through.  I am so proud of her.  And she wasn't even feeling well earlier today."

After Whitworth won the opening set fairly comfortably, Willamette pulled out a second game that featured 14 ties and seven lead changes.  The Bearcats overcame an early 5-1 deficit to win the third set and had all the momentum midway through the fourth game.

Miche finished with a career high nine service aces to go along with nine assists and a match-high 23 digs.  She also added a pair of kills along the way.

Jimenez led the Pirates with 13 kills and 15.0 points.  Franklin was Whitworth's most consistent hitter with 10 kills and only one error in 21 attempts for a .429 hitting percentage.  Amblessed Okemgbo also had 10 kills. 

Olivia Cadien had 13 kills through the first three sets and finished with 15 in the match to lead Willamette's upset bid.  She added 16 digs and was in on four blocks.  Katey Cramer added 11 kills for the Bearcats.

Whitworth will look to keep the momentum going into Saturday's match against winless Lewis & Clark.