FOREST GROVE, Ore. — Good for the win column, not so good for a coach's health.

For the second night in a row, Pacific went five sets to win a Northwest Conference volleyball match. This time, they rallied back from two sets down to defeat Whitman on Saturday night at the Stoller Center, 22-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-22 and 15-5 in front of a thrilled Homecoming crowd of 178.

That was more than good news for head coach Kip Yoshimura, who watched his Boxers lose their first two conference matches of the year — both in five sets. This time, over the same weekend, they went the limit and won. On Friday, they topped previously conference unbeaten Whitworth.

"These girls should know better than to do that to me," said Yoshimura, who literally had some health issues last year, cutting his season short. "But I feel great, and am happy that we are figuring out ways to win these matches now."

After dropping two close sets to kick off the night, the Boxers and Missionaires were wrapped up in another close battle, tied at 19-19. But two kills by Morgan Mendicino, another put away by Marie Rewick and an ace by Mendicino kept the home team alive (25-22).

The fourth set looked to belong to Whitman as they led for most of the game, including sitting just three points away from match point at 22-18. But a kill by Hannah Herbert and service aces from Karissa Koma and Lia Zablan helped PU knot the match, 25-23.

The comeback appeared to deflate the visitors in the rally scoring fifth set. Pacific led nearly from start to finish, racing to a 5-1 lead and never trailing on their way to the 15-5 finish.

Again, Pacific's attack was balanced. Herbert led the squad with 15 kills, but Rewick was right behind her with 14 and Ciara Smith had 11. Zablan had 17 digs and three aces and Komo added 14 digs and three aces.

The win put Pacific's record at 4-9 overall and 2-4 in the NWC. Whitman is now 3-8 and 1-5.

The Boxers will step outside of conference play this Wednesday when they host Multnomah in a 7 p.m. match at the Stoller Center.