Despite three players with double-digit kills, the Pacific University volleyball team dropped a 25-17, 25-15, 18-25, 25-19 decision to host Whitworth on Friday night in Spokane.

The Boxers (12-3, 5-2 NWC) hit at a .199 clip but it was not enough in the loss to the Pirates. Junior Morgan Mendicino (San Diego, Calif.) had 14 kills and 10 digs for her third double double of the season to lead Pacific. Freshman Jordan Zweifel (Tillamook, Ore.) and sophomore Karlee Duncan (Bend, Ore.) had 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Junior setter Ellie Parker (Beaverton, Ore.) had her seventh double double of the season, recording 37 assists and 13 digs in the loss.
 
The Pirates (9-6, 6-1 NWC) hit at a .247 clip with 58 kills – just shy of a season-high – in the win. Emiko Kahler had a double double with a match-high 17 kills to go along with 15 digs to lead Whitworth. Cassandra Mendoza also recorded a double double with 12 kills and 10 digs; plus, Laurren Budde added 10 kills in the win.
 
A 5-0 spurt in the opening set by the Pirates proved to be the different. After the set was tied at five, Whitworth scored the next five points to take a 10-5 lead. Kahler had six kills and seven digs to lead the host Pirates in the set.

The second set saw the score tied on 11 occasions and five lead changes but it was four unanswered points that put the home team ahead 18-14. Budde had a pair of kills in the spurt to lead Whitworth en route to a 25-15 win and a two-set advantage.
 
Coming out of the intermission, Pacific won the third set by a 25-18 margin. In the set, the Boxers overcame a pair of three-point deficits and posted an 8-1 run to close out the set. The Boxers' Duncan and Mendicino each had five kills; plus, Zweifel added four in the set.
 
The fourth and final set saw the score tied on four occasions and a lead change. The Pirates hit at a .312 clip and spread the attack among five players, who had multiple kills including four from Madison Douglas. The Boxers hit .206 and sophomore Bailey Servoss (Mount Vernon, Wash.) had a team-high four kills.
 
Next, Pacific will wrap up its weekend with a contest against Whitman at 5 p.m. in Walla Walla, Wash. at the Sherwood Athletics Center.