SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth Pirates made sure the finish was more important than the start of each set during a 3-0 sweep of visiting Pacific University in Whitworth's Northwest Conference opening volleyball match on Friday night.

The Pirates defeated the Boxers 25-17, 25-20, 25-18 to improve to 9-2 overall and 1-0 in the NWC.  The Boxers fell to 5-4, 1-1.

Whitworth trailed 8-6 early in the opening set after a Pirate attack error.  The Bucs responded with a 5-1 run to go ahead 11-9.  Leading 20-17, Whitworth scored the final five points of the set, capped by a Pacific attack error.

The Pirates jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead in the second game after a kill from Ella Jimenez.  Pacific fought back to tie the set four times, the first at 11-11 and the final time at 18-18.  Leading 20-19, Whitworth closed the set on a 5-1 run, winning on another error by the Boxers.

The Pirates never trailed in the final set, putting the match away with authority.  Josephine Thompson served two aces and Olivia Paul added a third to help the Bucs take an 8-2 lead.  Whitworth stretched the margin to 22-11 on a block by Jimenez and Cassidy Franklin.  After the Boxers closed to within 22-17 on an ace by Emma Velcheck, the Pirates finished on a 3-1 run.  Once again, the frame ended on a Pacific attack error.

"I like that we were calm and focused and avoided mental errors at the end of each set," said Pirate head coach Kati Bodecker.  "I was impressed with how we stayed together.  We also gained valuable experience by winning close non-conference matches already this season, which builds a lot of confidence."

Jimenez led Whitworth with 11 points on nine kills, a solo block and two block assists.  Amblessed Okemgbo had 10 kills and a block assist, while Franklin finished with eight kills, an ace and three block assists.  Megan Lange (16) and Josephine Thompson (13) combined for 29 of the Pirates' 40 assists to help Whitworth hit .276 in the match.  Taylor Miche had 11 digs on defense.

Mara Murphy had 10 kills for Pacific, while Velcheck finished with seven kills and three aces.  Danica Nelson had 18 digs from her libero position.  The Boxers hit only 0.064 in the match.

Whitworth will take on George Fox on Saturday night to close out the NWC-opening weekend.