WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Amblessed Okemgbo and Alyssa Baird had 13 kills apiece, while Josephine Thompson served five aces, to lead visiting Whitworth to a 3-1 win at Whitman College in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Tuesday night at the Sherwood Center.

The Pirates improved to 15-6 overall and 9-2 in the NWC with the 21-25, 25-16, 25-23, 25-18 win, their second straight victory following a two-game losing skid.  The Blues fell to 7-11, 6-5 but still remain in the hunt for the final conference tournament bid.

Whitworth jumped to a 10-4 lead in the opening set after a block by Rylie Harnden and Paige McKenzie.  Whitman fought back to tie the game 12-12 on a Pirate attack error.  The teams traded points and leads until the set was tied 20-20, at which point the Blues closed on a 5-1 run.  Lilli Thompson's kill ended the set in Whitman's favor.  The Blues hit .239 in the opening frame.

Whitworth responded from a slow start in the second set after Whitman jumped ahead 5-0.  The Pirates answered with an 8-2 run to go ahead on Baird's kill.  Leading 12-10, Whitworth went on an 8-0 run to take control, including a pair of aces by Josephine Thompson.  A block from Harnden and Okemgbo ended the set for the Bucs.  Whitworth hit .256 in the second, while holding Whitman to .056.

The Blues again jumped ahead quickly, going up 5-1.  The Pirates again responded, using an 8-3 run go take the lead.  The teams traded points and the lead three times.  After Whitman took an 18-16 lead, Whitworth used an 8-2 spurt to go up 24-20 on consecutive errors by the Blues.  Whitman pulled within 24-23 before the set ended on a Blues' service error.  Whitworth had five blocks in the third set.

With the fourth set tied 4-4, the Pirates scored five straight points, taking a 9-4 lead after three straight Whitman attack errors.  The Blues pulled back within 15-14 before Whitworth retook control.  Leading 18-17, the Bucs finished on a 7-1 run.  Whitworth hit .297 in the final game.

Baird finished with 15 points on 13 kills and two solo blocks.  She also led the team with 17 digs.  Okemgbo had 13.5 points, thanks to 13 kills and a block assist.  Lauren Kremer scored 12.5 points with 10 kills, two solo blocks and a block assist.  Mya Rodriguez had 20 assists and Thompson finished with 17 to direct the offense.  Thompson's five aces are a career high. 

Addie Belt led Whitman ith 10 kills, two solo blocks and a block assist.  Sammy Holmer added 13 points on nine kills, three aces and a solo block.

Whitworth will host Linfield on Saturday night at 6:00 pm.