SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth volleyball team will take a 6-4 non-conference record into the opening games of the Northwest Conference schedule this weekend. The Pirates, who won the NWC crown with a 16-0 record in 2024, will host Pacific University on Friday night (7:00 pm) before taking on Willamette on Saturday (6:00 pm).
Check the Whitworth volleyball schedule (link above-right) for up-to-date access to live results and a link to the FloSports broadcast.
Tickets: Digital tickets are required for entrance to the Whitworth Fieldhouse for all fans. Tickets can be purchased in advance using the Hometown Ticketing App. Follow the Tickets link on the schedule for access. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for senior adults, non-Whitworth students and children. Whitworth students, as well as faculty and staff, get free admission by using an ID number.
The Pirates: Whitworth (6-4), listed among "others receiving votes" in the most recent (Sept. 16) AVCA Division III coaches poll, had a very successful non-conference schedule against a difficult slate of opponents. The Pirates played in three tournaments, beginning with the Whit Classic in Spokane on August 29-30 where the Bucs defeated Texas Lutheran (3-1) and Carleton (Minn.) (3-0) before falling to NAIA Northwest University 3-2.
On September 5-6 Whitworth went to the Whittier Classic where the Pirates defeated Pomona-Pitzer (3-0) and host Whittier (3-0) while losing to Chapman (3-2) and now #2 La Verne (3-1).
Last weekend the Bucs went to the Trinity National Invitational in San Antonio, Texas and beat both Northwestern (Minn.) (3-2) and now #16 Trinity (3-2) while losing to now #5 East Texas Baptist (3-1).
Amblessed Okemgbo was named to the All-Tournament team at Trinity and was selected as the NWC volleyball Player of the Week. She averaged 3.43 kills per set while hitting .349 over the course of 14 sets. In the five-set win over the host Tigers, she had 20 kills and hit .500.
NWC Stat Leaders: Heading into Northwest Conference play, Whitworth ranks among conference leaders in several key statistical categories. The Pirates lead the NWC in blocks per set (1.82). They are second in hitting percentage (.177), kills per set (12.54), and assists per set (11.66).
Individually, Amblessed Okemgbo leads the league in kills per set (3.49) and total kills (143). Defensively, Lauren Kremer is first in kills per set (1.07).
NWC Poll: Defending champion Whitworth is listed atop a tightly packed Northwest Conference preseason coaches poll with 58 points, followed by Pacific Lutheran (57) and Puget Sound (55). Whitworth got four first place votes, PLU got three, Puget Sound two.
The Coach: Kati Bodecker has a record of 225-98 in her 13th season guiding the Pirates. Bodecker picked up her 200th win as Whitworth's coach on Sept. 13, 2024 vs. Chapman University. She is a five-time Northwest Conference Coach of the Year, including 2021 and 2024 when the Pirates posted perfect 16-0 NWC marks. She is 155-33 in conference matches through her first 12 years. Bodecker has directed the Pirates to six appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament (2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024). In 2013 she coached the Bucs to a 15-13 record, becoming the first Whitworth volleyball coach to post a winning record in her first season since Margaret Campbell in 1990. She previously had been the head coach at Priest River High School, leading the Spartans to five state tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2012. She was a four-year starter at the University of Idaho, helping lead the Vandals to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances as a sophomore and junior.
The Opponents: Pacific University is 3-2 heading into a home conference match against Linfield tonight. The Boxers lost 3-0 to Cal Lutheran on Sept. 6 and swept two matches from visiting Pacific Union (Calif.) on September 7. Junior OH Emma Velcheck leads the team offensively, averaging 3.00 kills per set and 0.69 aces per set. Senior libero Alyssa Cargill averaged 3.95 digs per set. Whitworth swept Pacific in 2024, winning 3-1 in Forest Grove, Oregon and 3-0 at home in Spokane.
Willamette University is 3-5 overall, but the Boxers are coming off a 3-1 road win over George Fox in their Northwest Conference opener on September 12th. Willamette will play at Whitman on Friday night. Senior OH Caroline Jameson leads the team in kills (2.64 per set) with a .175 hitting percentage. Senior DS Alayna Hughes has 17 aces (0.52 per set) and adds 1.70 digs per set. Whitworth swept the Bearcats last fall, pulling out a five-set victory in Spokane and winning 3-0 on the road in Salem.
Coming Up: Whitworth will host Whitman on Tuesday Sept. 23 before playing at Linfield on Friday Sept. 26.
