SPOKANE, Wash. – The visiting Linfield Wildcats knocked off defending champion Whitworth 21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23 in the Northwest Conference volleyball opener for both schools on Friday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.
The Wildcats (4-4 overall, 1-0 NWC) ended a seven-match losing streak to the Pirates (6-2, 0-1) thanks to 10 team blocks and 10 Whitworth service errors.
Linfield gave a hint of what was to come early in the match, jumping to a 5-1 lead in the opening set. The Pirates took their first lead at 14-13 on a Wildcat setting error and opened up a 20-17 advantage on a kill from Alyssa Baird. Linfield retied the set at 21-21 on a Whitworth service error before the Bucs closed out on a 4-1 run. Alyssa Baird had three kills for the Pirates, who hit .200 in the set but could not duplicate that percentage again in the match.
Trailing 12-10 in the second set, the Wildcats used a 9-2 run to take control of the game. Consecutive blocks by the Wildcats and a Pirate hitting error allowed Linfield to go ahead 19-14. Whitworth got back within 22-21 on a kill by Madison Pridon, but the visitors took three of the next four points. Katelyn Mawdsley had three kills in the set for Linfield.
Linfield carried the momentum into the third set, taking a 12-9 lead. The Pirates responded with a 5-0 run before the Wildcats answered with their own 5-0 spurt, taking a 17-14 lead on a kill by Nora Myre. Trailing 23-20, Whitworth fought back to tie 23-23 on a kill from Bryanna Dodson. After a Linfield timeout, the Wildcats scored the next two points including Myre's service ace. Myre had four kills in the set and Whitworth hit a season-low -0.029 in the game.
Whitworth tried to rally with a new lineup in the fourth set, going ahead 12-10. But Linfield scored the next five points, including three aces by Margaritah Banuelos. The Pirates responded with an 8-1 run, taking a 20-16 lead after a block by Lindsey Short and Lauren Kremer. The Wildcats answered with a 7-2 spurt, going up 23-22 on a Whitworth error. The Pirates' final error of the night ended the match.
Short led the Bucs with 12 kills, but was the only Whitworth player in double figures. The Pirates' hitting percentage of 0.077 was a season-low. Whitworth's normally strong serving game was absent against Linfield, with only three aces and 10 service errors.
Myre led the Wildcats with 15 kills. Ascha Nielsen had six block assists, while Kaitlyn Hough was in on five blocks (one solo, four assists). Naia Alefaio-Foifua had four of Linfield's 12 aces and a match-high 23 digs.
Whitworth will try to bounce back on Saturday against Lewis & Clark.
