Complete box score and play by play SPOKANE, Wash . -- Whitworth College edged closer to its third Northwest Conference volleyball title in the last five years by defeating visiting University of Puget Sound 31-29, 30-24, 31-29 on Friday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse. Whitworth improved to 17-3 overall and 12-1 in the NWC. The Pirates need only one more win in their final three matches to clinch at least a tie for the NWC title, but more importantly, the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III volleyball tournament. Puget Sound (12-5 overall, 9-4 NWC) fell three games behind Whitworth in the standings following tonight's loss. Whitworth has already learned that it will host the NCAA Division III Tournament's west regional, but the Pirates are not guaranteed a spot in the regional yet.
Natalie Danielson and Brittney Bower each posted 11 kills for the Pirates, while Whitney Murphy dug 20 balls. Bekah Hornor dished 29 assists and had seven kills of her own. Danielson led all players with five blocks. Kayla Roof finished with a match-high 13 kills to lead the Loggers. Jamie Eggers added nine kills and finished with 18 digs. Rachel Gross led UPS with 20 digs, while Jessica McPhee-Hayes had 31 assists. The match turned at the end of the first game. UPS took a 3-2 lead on back to back service aces by Monica Groves and held the lead until the very end. The Loggers led by as much as 20-15 after a kill by Groves and then stood at game point (29-27) following a Pirate service error. But Whitworth won the final four points to steal the game. Hornor and Danielson each had a kill and a block in the late rally. The Pirate momentum continued into the second game as Whitworth took an 11-2 lead after back to back errors by UPS. But the Loggers fought back, getting as close as 25-20 on a kill by Nikki Esposito and 28-24 on Esposito's service ace. But the Pirates won the game on a kill by Julie Marsh. The final game was a hard-fought, see-saw battle throughout with 14 lead changes and 21 ties. Neither team led by more than two points. UPS took its final lead on a kill by Eggers to make the score 28-27. The Pirates went up 29-28 on a kill by Hornor. After the Loggers tied the game for the final time, Whitworth won on back to back kills by Hornor and Danielson. Whitworth will host Pacific Lutheran on Saturday evening with the chance to clinch the title and the automatic berth to the tournament. PLU is the defending NWC champion. Puget Sound is still alive for a share of the NWC title, but the Loggers must win out and hope the Pirates drop all three remaining games. UPS will play at Whitman College on Saturday night. |
