Box Score SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth moved into a tie for first place in the Northwest Conference volleyball standings and built some separation with the rest of the field after a 25-17, 25-19, 26-28, 25-22 win over visiting Pacific Lutheran on Friday night.
The Pirates improved to 13-6 overall and 7-2 in the NWC, now tied atop the NWC standings with Willamette after the Bearcats were defeated at Linfield tonight. The third place Lutes dropped to 11-7, 5-4.
Nicole Leonard had a match-high 22 kills to lead Whitworth's efforts. As a team the Pirates hit .253 with 64 kills in the match. Leonard's total is a season-high, while the team's total is second highest this year.
PLU came out with a ton of emotional energy, but it was Whitworth that grabbed early momentum by jumping to an 8-1 lead in the opening set on a kill by Leonard. PLU got back to within 19-15 on Lucy Capron's kill, but the Pirates closed the set on a 6-2 run that included two kills from Cassandra Mendoza.
PLU was within 13-12 in the second set following a kill by Roshel Muzzall. But Whitworth went on a 7-1 spurt to grab a 20-13 lead following a kill by setter Maddye Dinsmore. Leonard ended the second set for the Bucs with her 10th kill of the night.
PLU won a back-and-fourth third set to prevent a Pirate sweep. The set was close throughout with neither team leading by more than three points. The Lutes had three set points before Muzzal's block ended the set in PLU's favor.
Another PLU block gave the Lutes an 18-16 lead in the fourth set and they appeared primed to force a fifth stanza. But Whitworth went on a 5-0 run to take control. The match ended on a PLU service error.
Mendoza added 15 kills for Whitworth, while Brenna Bruil finished with 11 kills. Dinsmore dished 56 assists and Mallorie Schoesler finished with a match-high 30 digs. The Pirates were able to overcome a cold serving night that included 13 service errors.
Capron led PLU with 21 kills and Chloe Epker added 10 kills. Kylai Cooley had 18 digs and Kendle Valade-Nunez finished with 40 assists.
Whitworth will host Puget Sound on Saturday night while PLU travels to play at Whitman.
