By Alli Kieckbusch– Student Writer

SPOKANE, Wash. ­– Whitworth University continued Northwest Conference play with a shutout win over visiting Lewis & Clark on Saturday night in the Fieldhouse (25-19, 25-18, 25-23). The Pirates improve to 8-3 overall and 2-0 in the NWC while the Pioneers fell to 7-2, 0-2.

A kill from Lauren Budde put the Pirates ahead 15-14 in the first, sparking the team's rally to win the set. A couple of kills from Jessica Schmautz completed the stanza. She finished with a match-high 11 kills for the Bucs.

The Pioneers kept the second set close and pulled within 19-17 when Kayla Valdez served an ace.  But Whitworth finished on a 6-1 run and final kill from Iris Tikhonov clinched their second set win.

The Pirates had a slow start to the third set, as Lewis and Clark used a 5-0 run to take a 10-6 lead mid-set. The Pioneers still led 23-21 before Whitworth scored the final four points to win the closest set of the matchup.                

Whitworth finished the game with a .210 kill percentage. Budde contributed 10 kills with the help of Erin White's 34 assists. Laina Damon had 6 aces, and Addy Woolery finished with 12 digs to lead the Bucs to victory.  

Kendall Malone led L&C with eight kills.  The Pioneers hit .157 as a team.

The Pirates will travel to Lewiston, Idaho to play Lewis-Clark St. on Wednesday, September 19th in a non-conference matchup.