PORTLAND, Ore. – It was another classic match between Warner Pacific College and Northwest Christian University on Friday in Cascade Collegiate Conference action and this time it was the Knights who prevailed, taking a 25-20, 22-25, 25-18, 256-28, 15-11 victory to open the penultimate weekend of CCC action.
 
The loss for NCU (13-11, 6-11 CCC) leaves no room for error as the team aims for a sixth-place finish in conference and the final playoff spot. Warner Pacific (10-12, 7-10) moved one game up on the Beacons as both teams are looking to catch current sixth-place owner, Oregon Tech.
 
The pinball bounced back-and-forth all evening with the teams rotating set victories. Pushed to the edge of a loss in the fourth, NCU staved off three match-points and forced a fifth set with a Cassidy Winters ace and Chandler Gabrio kill.
 
In the fifth, a Winters solo block found the visitors leading 4-2 but Warner Pacific went on a 9-2 run, to claim a five-point lead at 11-6. The Beacons rallied once again, however, and after three straight service aces from Marsha Poischbeg, the teams were tied at 11-11. WPC would not be denied as they rattled off four straight points to end the match, capped off by a block from Nicole Kincaide and Janessa White.
 
The Beacons were led by Gabrio (pictured) who posted an NCU season-high with 19 kills as she hit .353. Kayla Ping added a double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs while Winters finished the night with 13 kills and four blocks. Poischbeg ended her night with 50 assists, a team season high and the fourth-highest total in school history. She also produced nine digs, five aces and two blocks. Taylor Burnett led all players with 17 digs, adding three blocks.
 
Warner Pacific was led by White who finished with 14 kills and five blocks. Kincaide added nine kills and six blocks. Nicole Lisoski and Alyssa Neal added nine kills and five blocks each as WPC out-blocked the Beacons 13-6.
 
Head Coach Kelli Pitre said, "We battled tonight. Unfortunately, they served us aggressively and we were not quick to adjust. We knew they would go to White all night and we still couldn't stop her. We played aggressively up to the last point. Warner Pac is a hard place to play. Their crowd feels like it's on the court with you."
 
NCU returns to action Saturday night, playing at Multnomah University at 5:00 p.m.