CHICAGO – Whitworth University split its matches on the second day of the 2022 University of Chicago Gargoyle Classic to finish in a tie for the tournament title on Saturday.

The Pirates went 3-1 at the season-opening tournament to finish in a tie with St. Olaf (Minn.).  Chicago and Aurora (Ill.) both went 2-2, while Wisconsin-Lacrosse (0-4) did not win a match.

Whitworth fell to St. Olaf 25-20, 15-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-7 in the Pirates' first match.  The Bucs rebounded to defeat UW-Lacrosse 25-19, 25-16, 25-22.

Whitworth had a chance to win the tournament outright in its match with the Oles.  The Pirates led 2-1 in sets.  After falling behind 10-2 at the beginning of the fourth set, Whitworth rallied to tie the set 21-21 and 23-23, but St. Olaf got the final two points to win.  The Oles took the momentum into the deciding fifth set and never trailed in that frame.  Maddie Lee led the Pirates with 13 kills, while Jaye Hodge had ten kills.  Ella Jimenez had ten blocks (two solo, eight assists).  Megan Lange dished 17 assists, while Joelle Forbes had 15.  Eva Millan had 24 digs.

St. Olaf's only loss came to host Chicago earlier on Saturday.

Whitworth closed the tournament with its first sweep of the season.  The Pirates took control by hitting .379 in the opening set with 13 kills and only two errors in 29 attempts.  Lee had 10 kills, Cassidy Franklin added seven and Logan Spencer finished with six in the match.  Forbes had 16 assists and Lange had 14 as Whitworth hit .226 in the match.  Millan led the Bucs in digs for the fourth straight match with 11.

Whitworth will continue its non-conference slate next weekend at a tournament in Lexington, Kentucky at Transylvania University.