| Pirates Host
Whitman and George Fox |
Oct. 12, 2004
|
The Whitworth College volleyball team continues a key four-game homestand this weekend when the Pirates host Pacific University and defending NWC champion Linfield College. Pacific is 2-14 overall and 1-7 in the NWC this season. Linfield is 7-7 and 5-3.
The Pirates are coming off of a pair of 3-0 sweeps last week over Whitman and George Fox that improved the season record to 13-3 overall and 6-2 in the NWC.
| Last Week's Results | (W/L) Score | 2004 Record |
| 10/6 vs. Whitman * | W, 3-0 | 12-3, 5-2 NWC |
| 10/9 vs. George Fox * | W, 3-0 | 13-3, 6-2 NWC |
| This Week's Schedule | Time | Location |
| 10/15 vs. Pacific * | 7 pm | Whitworth |
| 10/16 vs. Linfield * | 7 pm | Whitworth |
| Next Week's Schedule | Time | Location |
| 10/22 at Willamette * | 7 pm | Salem, Ore. |
| 10/23 at Lewis & Clark * | 7 pm | Portland, Ore. |
| * Indicates Northwest Conference match | ||
The Pirates: Whitworth hit .255 as a team and totaled 11 team blocks to defeat Whitman 30-19, 30-24, 30-25 last Wednesday. Natalie Danielson (Jr., MB, Kennewick, Wash.) led the Pirates with 14 kills, while Julie Marsh (Jr., OH, Cheney, Wash.) chipped in with 13 kills and 14 digs. Katy Schrader (Sr., MB, Spokane, Wash.) had a match-high five blocks, while Whitney Murphy (Jr., RS, Spokane, Wash.) led all players with 16 digs. With the win the Pirates ended a two-match losing streak to the Missionaries.
Whitworth gained its second win of the week with a 30-19, 30-28, 30-23 win over George Fox on Saturday night. Bekah Hornor (Jr., S, Spokane, Wash.) had perhaps her best all around match of the season. She tallied a triple double with 40 assists, 11 kills and 13 digs. Danielson led the Pirates with 16 kills, while Marsh added 14 kills. It was Whitworth's second win over George Fox this season.
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 |
|
Willamette
|
7-1
|
13-4
|
|
Pacific Lutheran
|
7-1
|
8-6
|
| Whitworth |
6-2
|
13-3
|
|
Linfield
|
5-3
|
7-7
|
|
George Fox
|
4-4
|
8-8
|
|
Puget Sound
|
3-5
|
4-12
|
|
Whitman
|
2-6
|
4-12
|
|
Lewis & Clark
|
1-7
|
2-12
|
|
Pacific (Ore.)
|
1-7
|
2-14
|
|
Through 10/9
|
||
The Opponents: Pacific University lost 3-1 at home to Pacific Lutheran and 3-0 at home to Willamette to fall to 2-14 and 1-7 this season. Shasta Cummings and Hannah Gordon each average 2.5 kills per game. Whitworth defeated Pacific 30-17, 30-13, 30-26 on September 17th in the teams' first meeting of 2004.
Despite losing five starters from 2003 to graduation, the Linfield Wildcats have defended their conference title well. Linfield defeated L&C 3-0 but lost in a surprise to Puget Sound 3-2, both at home, over the weekend. All-American Lindsay Harksen leads the team in kills (3.8 per game), hitting percentage (.280), aces (23) and is second on the squad in assists (4.2 per game). Linfield handed Whitworth its first conference loss on September 18th by a score of 3-2 in McMinnville, extending the Wildcats' winning streak over the Pirates to three matches.
Four From 100: Head volleyball coach Steve Rupe needs only four more victories to reach 100 for his career at Whitworth. Rupe enters the week with a mark of 96-52 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).