SAN ANTONIO – Whitworth stormed from behind to defeat one NCAA tournament level team, but ran out of gas against the second during the opening day of the Trinity National Invitational Friday at Trinity University.
The Pirates rallied from two sets behind to defeat Northwestern (MInn.) 3-2 in the tournament's first match. The Bucs took the opening set against 10th-ranked East Texas Baptist before falling in four. Amblessed Okemgbo had 28 combined kills in the two contests.
Whitworth (5-4) will take on 11th-ranked host Trinity University on Saturday at 9:00 am Pacific time.
Game 1 – Whitworth 3, Northwestern 2
The Pirates rallied to defeat the Eagles 19-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-22, 16-14 in the tournament's opening match when Mya Rodriguez served Whitworth's 15th ace of the match for the winning point.
Northwestern, a team with a 120-21 record over the previous four seasons and national semifinalists in 2022, jumped out to a 2-0 lead against the Pirates. Whitworth began to turn the tide with a 5-1 run midway through the third set that gave the Bucs an 11-8 lead. Oliva Paul's ace close out the set.
Trailing 16-15 late in the fourth set, Whitworth took control with a 6-0 run that included two more aces by Paul. Okemgbo's kill finished off the set and tied the match at two sets apiece. The teams traded points through the fifth set until the Eagles appeared to take control at 13-11. Down 14-13, Whitworth scored the final three points of the match.
Lauren Kremer led the Pirates with 14.5 points on 10 kills, two solo blocks, three block assists and an ace. Okemgbo had 14.0 points, including a team-high 13 kills. Stephanie Leach came off the bench for 11 kills, a career-high. Rodriguez had 28 assists and 14 digs, while Thompson finished with 18 assists, three aces and 11 digs. Paul served five aces in the match.
Miranda Wyatt led Northwestern with 16 kills and 21.0 total points.
Game 2 – ETBU 3, Whitworth 1
The Pirates came out strong against the 10th-ranked Tigers in the tournament's second match, but appeared to run out of gas in a 22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-20 loss.
The Pirates trailed 18-10 in the opening set before storming from behind to win with a 15-4 run. Whitworth trailed 12-8 in the second game before rallying to tie 16-16. The Bucs fell behind 23-17 before getting within 24-21 on a kill by Kremer. The third set featured several ties and lead changes before ETBU finished on a 6-1 run to win. Whitworth dug too deep a whole in the final frame, falling behind 17-9. The Bucs rallied one more time, getting within 23-20 on a Kremer kill before the Tigers scored the final two points to close out the match.
Okemgbo pounded 15 kills to go along with an ace and two block assists for a team-high 17.0 points. Kremer had 10 kills and hit .450 with an ace and block assist (11.5 points). They were the only Pirates in double figures in kills or points. Rodriguez (21) and Thompson (17) combined for 38 assists. Paul had a team-high 18 digs.
ETBU All-American Graycee Mosley had 23 kills, three aces and a block assist for 26.5 points to lead the Tigers.
