WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Ella Jimenez had 30.5 points to lead Whitworth volleyball to a pair of 3-0 wins on Friday in the season-opening Whit Classic hosted by Whitman College.

Jimenez had eight kills in a 29-27, 27-25, 25-18 win over UC Santa Cruz in the season opener for both teams.  She had 14 kills in a 36-34, 25-22, 25-13 win over Redlands later in the day.

Whitworth will finish the tournament with a match against Clarkson University (N.Y.) on Saturday at 4:00 pm.

The Pirates had to survive a pair of close sets in the first match against the Banana Slugs.  Amblessed Okemgbo had back-to-back kills for the final points of the first set.  Lindsey Short's kill ended the second game.  Whitworth used a 10-1 run to break away from a 4-4 tie in the third set, eventually leading 17-6 before UCSC closed late.

Short led the Bucs with nine kills and no errors in 19 attacks (.474) in her first ever start at Whitworth.  Okemgbo also had nine kills, while Jimenez had eight kills, three blocks and an ace for a team-high 12 points.  Josephine Thompson (17 assists) and Megan Lange (16) combined for 33 assists to direct the offense.  Taylor Miche finished with 18 digs.

Whitworth and Redlands played a marathon first set.  The Pirates served eight times with a chance to win, while the Bulldogs served four times with a chance to clinch.  Franklin and Jimenez combined for a set-winning block.  Whitworth scored three of the final four points to win the second set and the Bucs dominated the final set to complete the sweep. 

Jimenez had 18.5 points with 14 kills, two solo blocks, three block assists and a service ace.  Okemgbo had nine kills for the second straight match with no errors (.643).  Thompson (19) and Lange combined for 35 assists to lead Whitworth to a highly-efficient .302 hitting percentage.