SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth opened defense of its Northwest Conference volleyball crown with a 3-0 win over visiting Pacific University on Friday night at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The Pirates (7-4 overall, 1-0 NWC) defeated the Boxers (3-4, 0-2) 25-16, 25-21, 25-14 thanks to a dominating defensive effort at the net.  Whitworth came into the match as the league's best blocking team and lived up to that with nine team blocks in this contest. 

The first set featured five ties and four lead changes in the first half of the set.  The final tie came at 12-12.  Leading 16-15, the Pirates closed on a 9-1 run, including three kills by Amblessed Okemgbo, who had four in the set.

Whitworth jumped to a 6-2 lead in the second set, but had trouble shaking the Boxers.  Pacific got within 9-8 on a kill by Hannah Carlson before the Bucs went back up 16-10 on Pacific's attack error.  The Boxers rallied again to within 22-20 before Whitworth closed out the frame on another Boxer attack error.  Alyssa Baird had four kills in the second set for the Pirates.

Rachel Cram served seven straight points as Whitworth opened an 8-1 lead to start the final game.  But Pacific came back to within 10-8 after a Pirate miscue.  Whitworth regrouped and put the match away with five blocks.  Pacific had a negative hitting percentage (-.222) thanks to the Pirate defense.

"I liked our focus," said Whitworth head coach Kati Bodecker.  "Even when moments didn't go our way or when we made mistakes, we kept our focus which is a big step forward for this team.  I credit the older players on this team for making that happen and keeping their teammates accountable."

Lauren Kremer led the Pirates with 12.5 points thanks to seven kills (.438), two aces, two solo blocks and three block assists.  Baird added seven kills, while Okemgbo had six.  Mya Rodriguez and Josephine Thompson had 13 and 11 assists, respectively, as Whitworth hit .158 as a team.  Bryanna Dodson led the Bucs with 11 digs.

Emma Velcheck and Hannah Carlson led Pacific with six kills apiece.  Velcheck also served the team's only ace.  The Boxers finished the match with a .000 team hitting percentage.

Whitworth will host Willamette on Saturday while Pacific travels to play at Whitman.