Complete box score and play by play SPOKANE, Wash . -- Natalie Danielson's 22 kills led Whitworth College back from a first game loss as the Pirates rallied to defeat visiting Pacific Lutheran University 26-30, 30-19, 30-28, 30-25 in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Saturday night at the Whitworth Fieldhouse. The win clinched the NWC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III volleyball tournament and at least a share of the conference title for the Pirates, who improved to 18-3 overall and 13-1 in the NWC. Whitworth has won its third title in the last five years. PLU, the 2004 NWC champions, fell to 12-9 and 9-5.
Julie Marsh added 16 kills, 16 digs and six aces for Whitworth, while Bekah Hornor dished 47 assists to go with eight kills. Holly Coleman led Whitworth with 17 digs. Kati McGinn led a trio of Lutes in double figures in kills with 16 to go along with 10 digs. Stephanie Turner added 13 kills and three aces. Meghan Fagerberg totaled 12 kills. Gina Di Maggio had 44 assists and 10 digs. The Lutes outhit the Pirates .268 - .163 to win the first game 30-26. McGinn had eight of her kills in the game as PLU turned an 11-8 deficit into a 20-12 lead with a 12-1 run. Whitworth rallied to within 29-26 before Turner ended the game with a kill. Whitworth jumped to an 8-2 lead in the second game remained in control on the way to a 30-19 win. Marsh had five of her kills in the game, which ended on a kill by Danielson. The turning point of the match occurred late in the third game. PLU took a 27-23 lead on a kill by Turner which forced a Pirate timeout. But Whitworth rallied to win the game 30-28 with a 7-1 run. Marsh scored two of Whitworth's final three points with kills. Whitworth kept the momentum going early in the fourth game, taking a 12-2 lead on Julie Marsh's third service ace of the set. But the Lutes refused to fold, rallying to tie the game 15-15 on a kill by McGinn. Whitworth retook control by turning a 20-19 lead into a 28-21 advantage with an 8-2 run. The Pirates ended the match on a kill by Marsh. Whitworth will conclude the regular season with a home match against Whitman on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. and a match at Willamette on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. A win in either contest will clinch an outright NWC title for the Pirates. PLU will host Pacific University on Friday night and George Fox University on Saturday to conclude the Lutes' 2005 season. Whitworth has already learned it will host the West Regional of the NCAA Division III tournament on November 10-12. The participants and starting times are still to be determined. |
