| Whitworth Finishes
the Season on the Road Rupe Reaches 100 Career Victories |
Nov. 1, 2004
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The Whitworth Pirates will conclude one of the best seasons in school history this week when they play their final two matches of the 2004 schedule on the road at Whitman and George Fox. Whitworth has already doubled its conference win total of 2003 when the Bucs finished 4-12. They can nearly double the overall win total of nine with two more victories this week.
The Pirates (17-5 overall, 10-4 NWC) are coming off of a win over Puget Sound and a hard fought loss to first place Pacific Lutheran in the final home matches of the season over the weekend.
| Last Week's Results | (W/L) Score | 2004 Record |
| 10/29 vs. Puget Sound * | W, 3-0 | 17-4, 10-3 NWC |
| 10/30 vs. Pac. Lutheran * | L, 3-1 | 17-5, 10-4 NWC |
| This Week's Schedule | Time | Location |
| 11/3 at Whitman * | 6 pm | Walla Walla |
| 11/6 at George Fox * | 7 pm | Newberg, Ore. |
| End of regular season | ||
| * Indicates Northwest Conference match | ||
The Pirates: Whitworth swept by Puget Sound 30-19, 30-26, 30-27 on Friday night. The Pirates got 11 kills and five blocks from Natalie Danielson (Jr., MB, Kennewick, Wash.) and 10 kills from Brittney Bower (Jr., OH, Onalaska, Wash.). Julie Marsh (Jr., OH, Cheney, Wash.) finished with eight kills and a match-high 23 digs. Whitworth swept the season series with the Loggers, winning both matches in three games.
Whitworth fought hard but fell to first place Pacific Lutheran 30-19, 31-29, 24-30, 33-31 on Saturday night. The Bucs had three opportunities to win the fourth game before PLU scored three straight points to pull out the match. Whitworth made the match close despite hitting a season-low .065 at the net. Danielson led the Bucs with 13 kills and six blocks, while Marsh added 11 kills and 14 digs. Bekah Hornor (Jr., S, Spokane, Wash.) finished with 39 assists, 17 digs and six kills. The Lutes won both meetings with Whitworth this fall, both in four games.
The Lone Senior: Katy Schrader (Sr., MB, Spokane, Wash.) played the final home matches of her career over the weekend. She leads the NWC this season in blocks, averaging 1.01 per game.
NWC Poll: Whitworth finished tied for fifth with Whitman in the 2004 preseason coaches poll. Pacific Lutheran and Willamette are picked first and second in the poll. Click here for the 2004 NWC Coaches Poll.
| NWC Standings | NWC | Overall |
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Pacific Lutheran
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13-1
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14-6
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Willamette
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12-2
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18-5
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| Whitworth |
10-4
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17-5
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George Fox
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7-7
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12-11
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Linfield
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5-9
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7-13
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Whitman
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5-9
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7-15
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Puget Sound
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5-9
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6-16
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Pacific (Ore.)
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4-10
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5-17
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Lewis & Clark
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2-12
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3-17
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Through 10/30
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The Opponents: Whitman College dropped two matches last week to fall to 7-15 overall and 5-9 in the NWC. Freshman Leslie Compean leads the Missionaries in kills, averaging 3.23 per game. Whitworth defeated Whitman in three games on October 6th in Spokane.
George Fox University is currently in fourth place in the conference standings with an overall record of 12-11 and an NWC mark of 7-7. The Bruins' junior outside hitter Linzi Stolsig has been named NWC Player of the Week twice this season and averages 4.33 kills per game. The Pirates have beaten George Fox twice this year - once at the Whitworth Invitational on September 4th and the second time was on October 9th when George Fox visited the Whitworth Fieldhouse.
He's Got 100: Head volleyball coach Steve Rupe was able to reach his 100th career victory at Whitworth over the weekend. Rupe now has a career coaching mark of 100-54 in his six seasons leading the Pirates. Only Joanne Atwell-Scrivner, who posted a 177-73 record from 1979-84, has coached the Pirates to more wins on the volleyball court.
The Coach: Steve Rupe is in his sixth season as the head volleyball coach of the Pirates. A 1989 graduate of Whitworth, Rupe has been named the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year twice (2001, 2002) and has become the second-winningest coach in school history with a record of 83-49 (.629) entering 2004. Under his direction, the Pirates have won a pair of NWC titles and have advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament twice (2001, 2002).