SPOKANE, Wash. – Playing one of its most balanced and efficient matches of the season, the Whitworth volleyball team dispatched fellow Northwest Conference title contender Pacific Lutheran in three sets on Friday night at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.
The Pirates hit .296 with their three leading hitters all above .300 to defeat the Lutes 25-18, 25-19, 25-14 and improved to 13-4 overall, 7-0 in the NWC.
Whitworth led the entire first set, jumping to a 5-1 lead on a kill by Alyssa Baird. PLU got within 7-6 on consecutive kills by Alexis Eggert before the Pirates used another 5-1 run to go up 12-7 after two straight kills by Amblessed Okemgbo. Another Baird kill made the score 19-11 and Lindsey Short's kill ended the set in Whitworth's favor. Short led the Bucs with five kills in the opening game.
The second set played out in similar fashion. After a 1-1 tie, Whitworth led the entire way. Josephine Thompson's kill gave the Bucs a 9-3 lead before PLU rallied to within 15-13 on a kill by Julissa Pernsteiner. A quick 5-1 run reset Whitworth's lead to 20-14 after a kill from Baird. Okemgbo's kill ended the set for the Bucs. Whitworth hit .318 in the second game and got five kills from Baird.
PLU (7-7 overall, 5-2 NWC) came out with fresh intensity in the third set, taking a 9-6 lead. The Pirates retook control with an 8-2 run, jumping ahead 14-11 on a PLU attack error. Whitworth would close out the match by outscoring PLU 11-3 the rest of the way. The Pirates hit .333 in the game thanks to four kills from Okemgbo.
Okemgbo led Whitworth with 11.5 points on nine kills (.409 hitting percentage) with two solo blocks and a block assist. Baird led the Bucs with 10 total kills while hitting .304. Short finished with eight kills and hit .438. Josephine Thompson (16) and Mya Rodriguez (13) directed the efficient attack with 29 combined assists. Olivia Paul served three of Whitworth's five aces and had 11 digs.
Eggert led PLU with nine kills and totaled 12.5 points by adding three solo blocks and a block assist. Pernsteiner added six kills. The Lutes hit .123 as a team.
Whitworth will host Puget Sound on Saturday night in a match that could determine sole possession of first place in the NWC standings.
