WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Whitworth University closed the 2020-21 volleyball season by sweeping a pair of five-set matches at Whitman College on Wednesday night.

The Pirates finish their season 10-2 while the Blues wrap up the year 1-11.  Maddie Lee had 34 kills in the two matches for the Bucs.

Whitworth posted the best record among the Northwest Conference's Washington member schools this winter.  The Pirates do not have a senior on their roster.

Match 1 – Whitworth d. Whitman 27-29, 25-20, 25-20, 17-25, 15-12
The Pirates had four players reach double figures in points, led by Lee who had 15 kills and four block assists for 17.0 points.

The first set featured nine ties and four lead changes, most coming after the Pirates rallied late.  Whitman forced a Whitworth timeout after taking a 21-15 lead and the Blues led 23-18 after a kill by Elyse Benavides.  The Pirates scored six straight points, which included a pair of kills and two block assists from Lee.  After four ties and a pair of lead changes, Whitman won the set with an ace.

Lee, Abby Wolverton and Akon A'leu each had four kills as Whitworth won the second set to even the match.  The Pirates hit .297 while the Blues hit only .053.

Whitworth never trailed in the third set, opening an 18-9 lead on Lee's kill.  Whitman rallied to within 21-18 before the Bucs closed out the set with a kill from Kaity Barr.

Whitman never trailed in the fourth set, hitting .229 as a team. 

The Pirates grabbed momentum by scoring the first five points of the final set.  Whitworth led 12-6 on Wolverton's kill before the Blues got within 14-12.

Barr finished with 16.5 points for the Pirates with 14 kills and five block assists.  A'leu had 14 points with 11 kills, two solo blocks and two block assists, while Wolverton had 13 kills.

Megan Suka led Whitman with 16 kills.

Match 2 – Whitworth d. Whitman 25-14, 23-25, 17-25, 25-18, 15-9
Behind two-sets-to-one, the Pirates rallied to win the season finale for both teams behind 19 kills and 23.0 points from Lee.

Whitworth rolled to an easy victory in the opening set thanks to a .300 hitting percentage in the frame.  The Bucs led 12-10 before outscoring the Blues 13-4 the rest of the way.  Lee had five kills in the set.

Whitman jumped out to a 20-13 lead in the second set on a service ace.  Whitworth rallied to within 22-21 on a block by Lee and Barr, but the Blues held on to even the match.

The third set was tied 13-13 before Whitman closed with a 12-4 run.  Whitworth had a negative hitting percentage (-.104).

The Pirates stayed alive by winning the fourth set.  Whitworth jumped out ahead 19-8 on a block from Barr and Logan Spencer.  After Whitman pulled to within 24-18, the Bucs took the set on a kill from A'leu.

Whitman appeared poised to win the finale when the Blues jumped ahead 3-0 on a pair of kills by Benavides and went up 7-6 on Whitworth's attack error.  The Pirates stormed away on a 7-0 run that included three consecutive errors by the Blues.  A'leu's kill ended the match. 

Lee had a service ace and six block assists to go along with her 19 kills.  Barr contributed six kills, two aces, a solo block and nine block assists for 13.5 points.  Wolverton finished with ten kills and A'leu had nine. 

Benavides led Whitman with 15 kills and Suka had 14.