WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Whitworth University opened the 2026 volleyball season with two victories on Friday at the Whit Classic, hosted by Whitman College.
The Pirates pulled out a five-set win over Wisconsin-Stout in their first game, then rolled past Beloit College in their second contest. Both schools are from the state of Wisconsin.
The Bucs will conclude the tournament with a contest against the host Blues on Saturday afternoon.
Whitworth 3, Wisconsin-Stout 0 –
Three Pirates reached double figures in kills to lead the team to a 25-15, 18-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-9 win over the Blue Devils.
Whitworth never trailed in the opening set and the Blue Devils led the entire way in the second game. The Pirates led the third game 16-8 before Stout went on a 13-1 run to go ahead 21-17 on the way to taking a 2-1 lead in sets.
The Pirates appeared to be giving up another big lead in the fourth set. Whitworth led 15-7 before the Blue Devils used an 8-0 run to tie the game. The set was tied two more times before the Pirates closed on an 8-2 run.
Whitworth closed out the match in the fifth set by starting with a 6-1 lead and never trailed.
Alyssa Baird had 16 kills, Lindsey Short added 14 and Lauren Kremer finished with 11 kills while not committing an error for a hitting percentage of .458.
Madison Pridon had 37 assists, 12 digs and two aces in her Pirate debut. Kaylee Winterroth had three blocks in her first match for the Bucs.
Brooke McCune had 17 kills and 15 digs for Stout.
Whitworth 3, Beloit 0 –
The Pirates hit .341 and served 13 aces to sweep the Buccaneers 25-14, 25-9, 25-16 and avoid a let down in the second match of the season.
Short led the team with eight kills and a .533 hitting percentage. Breanna Dodson (.500) and Baird (.455) had six kills apiece. Pridon dished 18 more assists and had five of the 13 aces. Olivia Paul finished with 11 digs.
Whitworth trailed only once in the match, when Beloit took a 1-0 lead in the second set. Madeline Holthaus had five kills to lead the Buccaneers.
