PARKLAND, Wash. – Pacific Lutheran pulled out a 3-2 win over visiting Whitworth in a match-up of the top two teams in the Northwest Conference volleyball standings on Saturday night in Olson Auditorium. 

The Lutes (15-7 overall, 14-0 NWC) won 17-25, 25-21, 25-23, 8-25, 15-12 to clinch the outright conference title over the Pirates (14-8, 11-3), sweeping the regular season series between the teams.  Both teams have clinched a spot in the upcoming NWC tournament and could meet a third time in 2023.

Whitworth jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first set as Ella Jimenez had four early kills.  The Lutes scored five straight to get within 10-8 and pulled within 13-12 on a service ace from Torie Takeuchi.  The Pirates responded with an 8-0 run, going ahead 21-12 on another Jimenez kill.  The Bucs closed out the set on a kill from Kaity Barr.  Whitworth hit .378 in the first set and had five blocks. 

PLU took its turn jumping out fast in the second set, going ahead 8-2 on a kill by Claire Hindman.  The Pirates fought back to tie the game 13-13 on a kill by Jimenez.  The Lutes scored four of the next five points and led 24-18.  Whitworth got back within 24-21 before PLU closed out the set on a fluke kill by libero Halle Hetzler.  The Lutes served five aces in the second set.

The third set featured 10 ties and five lead changes.  PLU went up 15-12 on an ace before the Pirates scored three straight points to retie the game 15-15 after an ace from Taylor Miche.  Trailing 19-16, the Bucs fought back again, retying the game 20-20 on a kill by Amblessed Okemgbo.  Leading 24-23, PLU finished the set on a kill by Elle Thomas.  The Lutes had seven more aces in the third set, often keeping the Pirates out of their offensive system.

Whitworth never trailed in the fourth set, jumping ahead 4-0, 8-1 and 17-6 after an Okemgbo kill.  Cassidy Franklin ended the domination with a kill.  The Bucs hit .444 with 14 kills and only two errors in 27 attacks.  Whitworth also had five more blocks in the game.

There were seven ties and three lead four lead changes in the final set.  The Pirates took a 7-5 lead after a kill from Logan Spencer, but PLU answered with three straight points to see-saw in front.  Whitworth had its final lead at 10-9 following a Lute error.  PLU closed the match on a 6-2 run, winning on a kill from Baylee Johnson.

Jimenez had 19.5 points for Whitworth on 18 kills and three block assists.  Okemgbo added 17 kills and hit .333 in the match.  Barr totaled 13.5 kills on nine kills, two solo blocks and five block assists.  Logan Spencer had 13 points, including 12 kills.  Josephine Thompson (29) and Mya Rodriguez (26) combined for 55 assists as Whitworth hit .288.  Franklin joined Barr with seven blocks (one solo, six assists) as the Pirates had 14 team blocks in the contest.

Johnson and Hindman had 11 kills apiece for the Lutes, who won the match despite hitting .119 as a team.  But PLU served 14 aces and got 31 digs from Hetzler, the NCAA DIII leader in the category.

Whitworth will play at Whitman on Wednesday before closing the regular season at home against Linfield next Saturday.