SPOKANE, Wash. - Beth Hanna and Kelcy Joynt combined for 33 kills to lead visiting Pacific Lutheran University to a 30-20, 30-26, 30-20 win over Whitworth University in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Saturday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Moore led all players with 26 digs

Hanna and Joynt had more than half of the Lutes' kills (51). Hanna had 20 of the kills and led her team with 16 digs and four aces, while Joynt contributed 13 kills. Gina DiMaggio dished 37 assists for league-leading PLU (12-3, 6-0).

Sarah Rusch led Whitworth (7-7, 2-4) with 10 kills, while Cassie Moore had a match-high 26 digs. Holly Ridings contributed 16 assists and 13 digs.

PLU broke away from a 5-5 tie in the first game with a 5-1 run, and led 14-7 after a Pirate attack error. Whitworth pulled to within 16-13 on a kill by Rusch, but the Lutes finished with a 14-7 run and won the game on back to back aces by Hanna.

While the second game was the closest of the three, the Pirates were never able to lead against the Lutes. PLU went ahead 6-1 after three straight Whitworth errors, but Nikki Bardwell's ace pulled the Bucs to within 13-12. The Lutes answered with a 9-2 run, taking a 22-14 lead on a kill by Stacie Matz. Whitworth again rallied, pulling within 27-25 on back to back kills by Rusch, but PLU won the game on Joynt's kill.

PLU again moved out to a big early advantage in the final stanza, taking a 9-2 lead on two straight kills by Hanna. Whitworth got within 12-9 on a kill by Ridings, but the Lutes followed with a 12-3 run and were never threatened.

Whitworth will try to break its current three-match losing streak on Wednesday night when the Pirates host Whitman College. PLU will return home to host Linfield College on Friday. The Lutes and Wildcats were co-NWC champions last season.