| Pirates Play
at PLU and UPS |
Sept. 27, 2004
|
The Whitworth College volleyball team hits the road for Tacoma this week for a pair of important Northwest Conference matches at Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran. The Pirates enter the week tied for first in the NWC after winning all three matches last week, including a pair of conference matches at home.
| Last Week's Results | (W/L) Score | 2004 Record |
| 9/21 at Lewis-Clark St. | W, 3-0 | 8-2 |
| 9/24 vs. Willamette * | W, 3-2 | 9-2, 2-1 NWC |
| 9/25 vs. Lewis & Clark * | W, 3-0 | 10-2, 3-1 NWC |
| This Week's Schedule | Time | Location |
| 10/1 at Puget Sound * | 7 pm | Tacoma, Wash. |
| 10/2 at Pac. Lutheran * | 7 pm | Tacoma, Wash. |
| Next Week's Schedule | Time | Location |
| 10/6 vs. Whitman * | 6 pm | Whitworth |
| 10/9 vs. George Fox * | 7 pm | Whitworth |
| * Indicates Northwest Conference match | ||
The Pirates: Whitworth defeated Lewis-Clark State College for the first time since 1991 last Wednesday, handing the Warriors a 30-28, 30-22, 30-26 set back in Lewiston. Julie Marsh (Jr., OH, Cheney, Wash.) led all players with 12 kills and hit .391. She also had a match-high 19 digs. Katy Schrader (Sr., MB, Spokane, Wash.) added nine kills and finished with seven block assists. The Pirates finished the non-conference piece of their schedule with a 7-1 record.
The Pirates handed visiting Willamette University its first Northwest Conference loss of the season with an epic comeback on Friday night - 29-31, 24-30, 30-17, 30-24, 18-16. Five players reached double figures in kills, led by Katy Schrader's 14. Rebekah Hornor (Jr., S, Spokane, Wash.) was all over the court for the Bucs, dishing 46 assists to go with 13 kills, 20 digs and six aces. Julie Marsh finished with 12 kills, 17 digs and six blocks. Natalie Danielson (Jr., MB, Kennewick, Wash.) added 11 kills and eight blocks. Brittney Bower (Jr., OH, Onalaska, Wash.) added 11 kills. The Pirates ended a two-match losing streak to the Bearcats.
Whitworth dominated both sides of the net to roll past Lewis & Clark 30-13, 30-23, 30-17 on Saturday. The Pirates hit .270 as a team to the Pioneers' .053 and also had eight team blocks (two solo, 12 assisted) to two for L&C. Brittney Bower posted career high numbers with 17 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. The Pirates have now defeated the Pioneers in 12 straight meetings.
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 |
| Whitworth |
3-1
|
10-2
|
|
Willamette
|
3-1
|
9-3
|
|
Linfield
|
3-1
|
5-5
|
| Pacific Lutheran |
3-1
|
4-6
|
|
George Fox
|
2-2
|
6-6
|
|
Whitman
|
2-2
|
4-8
|
|
Lewis & Clark
|
1-3
|
2-8
|
|
Puget Sound
|
1-3
|
2-10
|
|
Pacific (Ore.)
|
0-4
|
1-11
|
|
Through 9/25
|
||
The Opponents: The University of Puget Sound is having an uncharacteristically tough season at 2-10 overall and 1-3 in the Northwest Conference. The Loggers did win their most recent match, defeating visiting Pacific University 3-0 over the weekend. Outside hitter Nikki Esposito leads UPS with 3.8 kills per game. Libero Rachel Gross averages 4.7 digs per game. The Pirates and Loggers split two matches in 2003 with each winning on the other's home court.
Pacific Lutheran University has bounced back from a very difficult non-conference schedule to tie for first place in the NWC standings in the early going. The Lutes (4-6 overall, 3-1 NWC) defeated Puget Sound 3-1 and Linfield 3-0 last week. Outside hitter Stephanie Turner was a Second Team All-NWC selection last year and currently leads the team by averaging 3.1 kills per game. Megan Kosel is the top defender with 4.1 digs per game. PLU swept Whitworth in both meetings last season.
Seven From 100: Head volleyball coach Steve Rupe needs only seven more victories to reach 100 for his career at Whitworth. Rupe enters the week with a mark of 93-51 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).