SPOKANE, Wash. – Lauren Kremer dominated on both sides of the net and at the service line to lead Whitworth to a 3-0 win over visiting Pacific University in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Friday night.
Kremer led the Pirates (17-2 overall, 11-1 NWC) to a 25-11, 25-9, 25-14 win over the Boxers (2-17, 1-11) with six kills, nine block assists and four service aces for a total of 14.5 points.
Pacific led 2-0 in the opening set and then never led again in the match as Whitworth responded with a 7-1 run to take control. Four straight attack errors by the Boxers allowed the Bucs to extend the margin to 13-4. A block from Kremer and McKenna Adams stretched the lead to 21-7 and a final Pacific attack error ended the game. Alyssa Baird had four kills in the set for the Bucs.
Whitworth jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the second set as Kremer served three of her aces. Kaylee Winterroth's kill made it 16-4. Bryanna Dodson's kill ended the set. Dodson led the Bucs with four kills in the second game and the team hit .312 with five aces.
The Pirates jumped ahead 9-3 in the final stanza after a kill from Lindsey Short. Pacific got as close as 11-7 on a kill by Emma Velcheck, but no closer. Baird's ace made it 20-11 and she ended the match with her fourth kill of the game. Short also had four in the third set.
Baird led Whitworth with nine kills (.333) and added two aces and three block assists for 12.5 points. Short had seven kills and four block assists. Whitworth had 12.0 team blocks and 48 digs, including 14 by Olivia Paul, to hold Pacific to a team hitting percentage of -.029. Madison Pridon and Sofie Fox dished a dozen assists apiece and Pridon added four aces. Whitworth served 11 aces in the match.
Isabelle Darnell led Pacific with seven kills, while Velcheck had six.
Whitworth will travel to Oregon for matches at George Fox and Willamette next weekend.
