CHICAGO – Whitworth opened the 2022 volleyball season at the 2022 University of Chicago Classic with impressive victories over two schools that made the 2021 NCAA tournament and are favored to return this season.
The Pirates (2-0) defeated Aurora (Ill.) 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23. The Bucs then survived 25th-ranked University of Chicago 29-27, 25-19, 22-25, 19-25, 15-11. Maddie Lee, the 2021 Northwest Conference Player of the Year, had 30 kills on Friday.
Lee had 18 kills and hit .304 to lead Whitworth's offense in the opener. Ella Jimenez led the defense with 11 blocks. Joelle Forbes (21 assists) and Megan Lange (18 assists) split time at setter and led the Bucs to a .213 team hitting percentage. Eva Millan had 22 digs, while Jaye Hodge had 18. Aurora came into the match as the preseason favorite to win the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference for the fifth year in a row and the Spartans are listed first among others receiving votes in the AVCA preseason Division III poll. NACC Player of the Year Sydnei Avery led Aurora with 25 kills and hit .431.
Whitworth defeated Chicago in five sets after winning the opening two frames and falling to a big early deficit in the fifth set. But the Pirates outscored the Maroons 15-6 down the stretch to pull off an upset of the 25th-ranked host school. Jimenez had 14 kills and hit .323, while Cassidy Franklin had 13 kills and six blocks in the middle. Lee finished with a dozen kills. Lange dished 32 assists and Forbes had 21. Millan dug 24 balls. Chicago plays in the high-powered University Athletic Association.
Whitworth will complete the tournament with matches against St. Olaf (Minn.) and Wisconsin-Lacrosse on Saturday.
