SPOKANE, Wash. – Abby Wolverton posted career-highs of 19 kills and 20.0 points to lead Whitworth to a 22-25, 25-12, 25-13, 25-13 win over visiting Whitman in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Saturday night.

Wolverton was nearly unstoppable, hitting .576 without an error in 33 total attacks.  She is a primary reason the Pirates (5-0) set a school record for best team hitting percentage in a four-set match (.388). 

Whitman (1-3) jumped out to a 13-7 lead in the opening set on a kill by Megan Lange, forcing a Whitworth timeout.  The Pirates fought back to within 18-17, but the Blues held off the charge and won the set on a kill by Elyse Benavides.

One night after the Blues took a two-set lead, Whitworth fell behind 4-0 in the second frame.  The Pirates answered with a 16-1 run, forcing a pair of Whitman timeouts along the way, to go ahead 16-5.  The Pirates served five aces in the set and Wolverton had six of her kills.

Whitworth took control early in the third set, forcing a Whitman timeout at 14-7 on Kaity Barr's service ace.  The run continued into another Blue timeout at 19-9 following Wolverton's fifth kill of the frame.  Abigail Newcomb ended the set with her first kill of the match.

The final set was tied 6-6 when the Pirates pulled away, using a 14-2 run.  Marta Jantzi and Jordyn Foxen combined on a block to give the Bucs a 20-8 lead.  Maddie Lee's kill was the final point of the match.

Barr added 15.0 points for Whitworth on 11 kills, 3.0 blocks and an ace.  Lee totaled 14.0 points with 11 kills and three aces.  The Pirates finished the match with a season-high 14 service aces.  Saylor Anderson and Joelle Forbes continued to split time at setter and combined for 47 assists.

Megan Suka led Whitman with nine kills.  The Blues hit .110 as a team.

Whitworth will travel to play at Pacific Lutheran in a pair of NWC matches next weekend.