Box Score SPOKANE, Wash. – Brenna Bruil's ten kills led Whitworth to a 25-23, 25-23, 26-24 sweep of visiting Lewis-Clark State in a non-conference volleyball match on Wednesday night at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.
The Pirates (3-2) won three tight sets in their 2015 home opener. The Warriors, ranked 23rd in the NAIA preseason volleyball poll, dropped to 6-6.
Bruil had ten kills and hit .261 for the Pirates, while Nicole Leonard added nine kills, three aces and 10 digs. Maddye Dinsmore dished 34 assists and had 12 digs and three aces.
Treneisha Doyle, JaLisa Jose and Kennadie Clute all had ten kills apiece for the Warriors. But 20 attack errors, seven service errors and two ball handling errors came back to haunt LCSC in a match that was much closer than a three-set sweep would indicate.
Whitworth trailed 22-18 in the opening set before the Pirates stormed back by winning seven of the final eight points. Bruil began the rally with a pair of kills and Dinsmore kept it going with consecutive service aces. Bruil's kill gave the Bucs a 24-23 lead and a ball handling error finished the set in Whitworth's favor.
The Pirates held off a late rally to win the second set after the Warriors scored three straight to things up at 22-22. But Whitworth earned three of the final four points, beginning with a block by Andie Gebbers and Bruil. Cassandra Mendoza ended the set with her fourth kill of the second frame.
The Pirates used a little bit of good luck to close out the match in the third set. With LCSC leading 24-22, Doyle blistered a jump serve that Pirate libero Mallorie Schoesler barely got under. Her pass carried back over to the Warrior side, barely clearing the net and landing on the sideline for a Whitworth point. Schoesler then served the final three points to close out the match. Bruil had a kill to give the Bucs a 25-24 lead and she paired with Dinsmore on a block for the final point.
The Pirates will hit the road to St. Louis, Missouri to participate in the prestigious Baden Invitational at Washington University on Friday and Saturday.
