WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Emiko Kahler pounded 20 kills to lead visiting Whitworth to a 3-1 win at Whitman in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Wednesday night.

The Pirates defeated Whitman 25-16, 19-25, 25-23, 25-19 and showed no signs of a letdown despite having already clinched the 2016 NWC title.  Whitworth improved to 20-5 overall and 14-1 in the NWC.  Whitman fell to 10-13, 7-8.

Kahler's 20 kills are a career-high for the first-year Pirate.  She had only four errors and finished with a hitting percentage of .308.  She was the only Whitworth player in double figures.  Brenna Bruil, Cassandra Mendoza and Lauren Budde all had six kills each.  Erin White finished with 36 assists.

Whitworth scored 14 points at the service line, finishing with a season-high 14 aces.  Kahler had five of those.  The Pirates added nine points on blocks, led by Bruil's five block-assists.

Megan Henry led Whitman with 11 kills.  Natalia Zea added eight kills and was in on six blocks.

Whitworth earned three wins over Whitman this season and the Pirates have won the last ten in a row between the schools.

The Pirates will close out the regular season on Saturday night by hosting Lewis & Clark College.  Bruil and Haley Vick are the only seniors on Whitworth's roster and will be recognized prior to the match.