SPOKANE, Wash. – After two weekends at tournaments in far-flung parts of the country, and the first weekend of Northwest Conference play on the road, the Whitworth University volleyball team will finally play at home this week. The Pirates take on Whitman on Wednesday night (6:00 pm) and Willamette on Saturday night (6:00 pm).
Check the Whitworth volleyball schedule (link above-right) for up-to-date access to video and live stats.
Tickets: Digital tickets are required for entrance to the Whitworth Fieldhouse for all fans. Tickets can be purchased in advance using the Hometown Ticketing App. Follow the link for access. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for senior adults, non-Whitworth students and children. Whitworth students, as well as faculty and staff, get free admission by using an ID number.
The Pirates: Whitworth (7-3 overall, 1-1 NWC) split its opening conference weekend, winning 3-1 at Pacific Lutheran and losing in three sets at Puget Sound, ending the Pirates' school-record 17-match conference winning streak.
Whitworth defeated Pacific Lutheran 25-20, 26-28, 25-20, 25-21 in Parkland on Friday night. The Pirates pulled out the win despite inconsistent offensive play. Jaye Hodge led the team with two season-highs: 13 kills and four service aces. Maddie Lee had 12 kills and 17 digs. Cassidy Franklin and Ella Jimenez controlled the middle once again. Franklin had 10 kills and three block assists, while Jimenez had nine kills and five blocks (two solo, three assists). Jimenez also served three aces.
The Pirates struggled all night against an inspired Puget Sound squad, losing 25-21, 25-17, 25-22 in Tacoma on Saturday. Whitworth hit only .139 in the match, while the Loggers hit .211. Lee was the only Whitworth player in double figures in kills (10), while Hodge finished with six kills and two aces. Franklin led the Bucs with four block assists. UPS was also the last NWC team to defeat Whitworth, during the COVID-19 season on March 13, 2021.
Build the Wall: Ella Jimenez has been a force on defense for the Pirates in 2022. She leads the NWC and ranks fourth in NCAA Division III in total blocks (51) and ranks fifth in DIII in blocks per set (1.34). In addition, she leads the conference in hitting percentage (.354). Ella is a big reason the Pirates lead the conference, and rank 15th in DIII, in team blocks per set (2.24).
History Achieved: The 2021 Pirates became the first Whitworth team to finish its Northwest Conference schedule undefeated and the first NWC team to traverse the league slate without a loss since PLU in 2009. Whitworth won its 11th Northwest Conference volleyball title last fall. It is the 10th championship since 2001 and fifth under head coach Kati Bodecker.
In addition, Whitworth posted its best regular season record since the Pirates went 23-2 during the regular season in 2002.
NWC Poll: Whitworth was picked first on eight out of nine ballots in the 2022 NWC preseason coaches poll. The Pirates had 64 points to outdistance PLU, who had the remaining first place vote and 56 points. Puget Sound was third in the poll (47 points), while Pacific (Ore.) was fourth (41 points). Coaches cannot vote for their own school.
The Coach: Kati Bodecker, now 168-65 in her tenth season guiding the Pirates, is a four-time Northwest Conference Coach of the Year after leading Whitworth to five NWC championships in her first nine seasons. She is 117-23 in conference matches during that time. Bodecker has also directed the Pirates to five appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament (2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021). In 2013 she coached the Bucs to a 15-13 record, becoming the first Whitworth volleyball coach to post a winning record in her first season since Margaret Campbell in 1990. She previously had been the head coach at Priest River High School, leading the Spartans to five state tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2012. She was a four-year starter at the University of Idaho, helping lead the Vandals to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances as a sophomore and junior.
The Opponents: Whitman comes into Friday's match 3-7 overall and 1-1 in the NWC. Last weekend the Blues fell 3-0 at Puget Sound, but knocked off Pacific Lutheran 3-2 with a dramatic comeback on Saturday. Junior Nicole Kelly averages 3.06 kills per set and leads the team in service aces (15). Junior OH Kenzie Martinez leads the team in kills per set (3.36). Last year Whitworth swept Whitman, winning 3-0 in Spokane and 3-2 in Walla Walla. The Pirates have won the last 12 meetings between the teams.
Willamette heads into Friday night's match at Whitman 3-5 overall and 2-0 in the NWC. The Bearcats got a road win at Linfield (3-2) and a home sweep of Pacific (Ore.) last weekend to open conference play. Sophomore OH Olivia Caden leads the team with an average of 3.03 kills per set. Senior OH Dani Queja adds 2.10 kills per set and 2.66 digs per set. Whitworth swept Willamette in 2021, winning 3-1 on the road and 3-0 in Spokane. The Bucs have won the last ten matches between the teams.
Coming Up: The Pirates will travel to Lewis & Clark and George Fox for a pair of NWC matches next weekend.
