TACOMA, Wash. - In a five-set thriller, the 21st-ranked Puget Sound Loggers overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Whitworth Pirates, 25-14, 18-25, 22-25, 25-14 and 16-14, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Friday night at Memorial Fieldhouse in Tacoma, Wash.

In the first set, the Loggers got off to a hot start, hitting .407 with 13 kills and just two attack errors on 27 attacks to collect a 25-14 set one win.  Helping the Loggers cause was a chilly Whitworth attack as the Pirates hit just .029 on the set, collecting nine kills but committing eight attack errors on 34 attempts.

In the second set, the Pirates came alive, using three service aces and three blocks to pull ahead and tie the match at one set each.  Whitworth used a six-point run midway through the set to pull ahead and the Loggers struggled on the attack, collecting just seven kills and committing six attack errors to hit .029 for the set.  On the other side, Whitworth continued to improve, collecting 13 kills and committing eight errors on 38 attempts for a .132 clip.

In the third set, Whitworth had their best set of the match and the Loggers continued to struggle on the attack.  The Pirates collected 18 kills on the frame, committing just five attack errors on 38 attempts for a .342 hitting percentage as they collected the 25-22 victory.

In the fourth set, the Loggers took control, using five service aces and a near-flawless attack to collect a 25-14 victory.  Puget Sound collected 11 kills and committed just two attack errors for a .346 clip and, despite a strong hitting set from Whitworth, who had 11 kills and four errors for a .212 clip, the Loggers forced the fifth and deciding set.

In the fifth set, it looked like the Loggers would make quick work of the Pirates, holding a 7-1 advantage but the Bucs powered back, eventually evening the frame at 14-14.  With their backs against the wall, the Loggers rose to the challenge, using an attack error by Whitworth's Kaimi Rocha and a block by Stephanie Harvey (Yakima, Wash./Eisenhower) and Sophie DeWitt (Astoria, Ore.) to collect the five-set victory.

The Loggers were led by 12 kills from Brynn Blickenstaff (Eagle, Idaho) and 11 from Kalli Kamphaus (Manson, Wash.).  Harvey added 37 assists in the victory while Leigh Sumida (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Iolani) chipped in 20 digs on the night.  The Loggers finished with nine service aces and 12 total blocks on the match.

Whitworth was led by 16 kills from Morgan Veleke and 11 kills from Ka'ipo Rocha.  Bree Riddle added 37 assists in the losing effort while Arian Obert dug out 21 balls on the night.  The Pirates collected 60 kills on the night but committed 31 errors on 171 attempts for a hitting percentage of .170.

The Loggers will conclude the home portion of their schedule on Saturday evening when they play host to Whitman, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Fieldhouse in Tacoma, Wash.