SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth picked up its fifth consecutive Northwest Conference volleyball victory with a sweep of visiting Whitman on Wednesday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The Pirates (15-6 overall, 9-2 NWC) defeated the Missionaries (4-13, 2-9) 25-18, 25-18, 25-20 to hold onto first place in the Northwest Conference standings.  The Bucs lead Willamette (7-3) by a game and a half.

Whitworth got the win behind a balanced offensive attack.  Cassandra Mendoza had 10 kills, Shawna Korshavn and Nicole Leonard had nine each and Brenna Bruil added eight.  Maddye Dinsmore directed the offense with 35 assists, while Mallorie Schoesler led the way with 12 digs.

The Pirates only led the opening set 17-16 before pulling away at the end with an 8-2 run.  Leonard and Korshavn each had two kills during that clinching run and the set ended on a Whitman ball handling error.

The second set played out in similar fashion.  Whitworth only led 15-14 before closing out with a 10-4 run.  Leonard started the run with a pair of kills and Bruil finished off the set with a kill of her own.

Whitman took a 10-7 lead in the third stanza after Natalia Zea's service ace forced a Pirate timeout.  But Whitworth responded with a 7-0 run and never trailed again.  Mendoza had half of her ten kills in the final set, including two during the 7-0 spurt.  A Missionary attack error ended the match.

Abby Seethoff led Whitman with eight kills, while Megan Henry finished with 11.  Cherokee Washington led all players in the match with 20 digs.

Whitworth and Whitman will travel to George Fox this weekend.  The Pirates play the Bruins on Friday night, while the Missionaries visit GFU on Saturday.