PARKLAND, Wash. – Lauren Kremer had a match-high 16 points to lead visiting Whitworth to a 3-0 sweep of Pacific Lutheran on Friday night at Olson Auditorium, giving the Pirates a statement victory near the midpoint of the Northwest Conference schedule.
Whitworth's (12-2 overall, 6-1 NWC) 25-15, 25-19, 25-23 win forced a three-way tie atop the NWC standings with the Lutes (13-3, 6-1) and Puget Sound (9-6, 6-1). PLU had come into the night undefeated in conference play and had lost only one set all season against NWC opponents.
Kremer finished with 10 kills and no errors in 22 attacks (.455), while adding three aces, one solo block and four block assists.
The Pirates never trailed in the opening set, running out to a 12-3 lead as Kremer served all three of her aces in a 9-1 run. After PLU got back within 16-12, Whitworth finished the set on a 9-3 run. Lindsey Short had three kills in the game for the Bucs.
The Lutes had an early 3-2 lead in the second set before Whitworth went on a 10-3 run to go up 12-6 on Alyssa Baird's kill. PLU fought back to within 14-12 on a kill from Shaela Allen-Greggs, and then got within 18-17 on a Pirate attack error. Whitworth then closed the game on an 8-1 run as Kremer contributed three kills and a block in those eight points. She had five kills in the set.
The final set was competitive from the start, featuring 10 ties as four lead changes as PLU did all it could to prevent the sweep on its home floor. Whitworth jumped ahead early, taking a 6-1 lead on another Kremer kill. The Lutes took control with a 13-5 run, going ahead 14-11 on a dump from setter Ayre Takamoto. The Bucs retied the set 17-17 on a kill from Lindsey Short and the set was tied seven more times, the last time at 23-23. Kaylee Winterroth's kill put the Pirates up by one and then Kremer and Baird combined for the match-winning block.
Whitworth hit .232 against one of the best defensive teams in the league. Sofie Fox had 18 assists and Madison Pridon 17 in the 6-2 attack. Olivia Paul was all over the court on defense with 25 digs, her career-high in a three-set contest. She also had three assists and an ace.
Alexis Eggert led PLU with 10 kills and 13.0 total points. Takamoto dished 24 assists, but the Lutes were only able to hit .128. PLU also only had two aces against eight service errors.
Whitworth will finish out the first half of NWC play at Puget Sound on Saturday night with a chance to at least share first place at the halfway point.
