PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Lewis & Clark Pioneers scored four of the final five points in the fourth set and forced a deciding set in Friday's match with the Northwest Conference-leading Whitworth Pirates. The Pios fell behind during a four-point run by the Pirates midway through the fifth to lose narrowly, 25-27, 25-19, 26-24, 24-26, 15-9, at Pamplin Sports Center.

Whitworth hit .450 in the final set, while the Pios posted a .310 mark in the fourth. Kelsey Parker and Izzy Willis each had 13 kills and hit .310 or better, while Cameryn Nagaji added 12 kills at .280. The Pirates totaled 22 blocks.

The loss is the first at home for Lewis & Clark. Whitworth (13-2, 8-0 NWC) remains undefeated in NWC games.

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Key Moments

After no fewer than six attack errors in the first three sets, the Pioneers committed only five in the fourth and didn't make a service error. The cleaner frame helped the Pios win four points in the closing moments of the match, two points of which were attributed to Pirates miscues. Meanwhile, Nagaji, who served the final three points, and Willis each had a kill during the stretch. The effort helped close what was a 22-21 deficit into a 26-24 win.

"Katie Shimaura had a great, all-around effort for us, and she is really coming into her own in that libero role," interim head coach Kaiao Nahale-a said. "We put together a great week of practice and felt so prepared coming into this game."

The Pios preparation was evident in the opening set. Lewis & Clark (5-7, 4-3 NWC) overcame a five-point margin with Michelle McGinn, who finished tied for a match-high 32 assists, serving for four points, and Debi Chun for two more including the go-ahead score. Nagaji had six of her 12 kills in the opener. 

The third set was pivotal with a match-most 13 combined ties and lead changes. With the match tied at one set apiece, the Pioneers held a 21-18 lead and were one point from clinching at 24-21. After Kaity Barr's kill gave Kaitlyn White the serve, the Pios committed four straight attack errors, part of their match-worst nine, and Whitworth took a 2-1 advantage.

Deeper Look

• Shimaura had 19 digs, her third most this season, which gives her no fewer than 18 in her last four matches
• She leads the Pios in total digs (158) and is second in digs per set (3.43)
• McGinn added 13 digs, her fifth match this season with at least 10 and her second time in a row
• Ka'anelaokapu'uwai Pakaki-Pias, who leads the Pios with a 4.06 digs per set average, competed in her first match since Sept. 18 and had five digs and two kills
• Chun finished with seven kills and hit in the negative (- .129) for the first time since Sept. 4  
• Kate Kimbro had a season-high six kills on .545 hitting and two blocks
• Sydney Richardson added a career-most 17 assists and has had at least 10 in five of her last six matches
• Annika Traxler entered in the third set, served for an ace and added a kill
• Barr led the Pirates with 17 kills, and Eva Millan had 20 digs

Looking Ahead

Lewis & Clark hosts Whitman on Saturday night.