Kelsey Bumgarner, Whitworth Sports Information Intern

Complete box score and play by play

Bardwell had a double double (15 kills, 14 digs)

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth University took advantage of home court Friday night, beating George Fox University 3-1 (22-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-21) in a Northwest Conference volleyball match.

The Pirates used a diversified attack: Nikki Bardwell (Sr., OH, Colville, Wash.) finished with 15 kills and 14 digs, Kaimi Rocha (Fr., OH, Pukalani, Hawaii) had 13 kills, and Ka’ipo Rocha (Fr., MB, Pukalani, Hawaii) had 11 kills to help the Bucs hit .225 in the match. Bree Riddle (Fr., S, Spokane, Wash.) also contributed 4 service aces and 27 assists, Jordan Hoffnagle (Fr., S, Spokane, Wash.) gave 21 assists, and Bethany Castilleja (Sr., Lib, Kennewick, Wash.) had 13 digs.

Jennifer Panico led the Bruins with 13 kills and 14 digs. Lyndsay Hovee knocked down 13 kills and came up with 10 digs, Sarah Burkey also contributed 14 digs, and Ali Lefebvre had 25 assists. Natalie Pickett led a defensive front at the net with 4 blocks. George Fox hit .144 against the Bucs.

Jennifer Panico led a Bruin attack in the first set with 7 kills. Riddle served two aces early to help Whitworth take a 8-2 lead, but George Fox made a slow comeback and tied it up 12-12 with 2 kills each for Panico and Pickett. The teams traded points until Pickett and Sarah Crossfield blocked a Pirate attack to give George Fox the edge at 21-20. Crossfield hammered down two more kills to give the Bruins control, and Panico ended the set 25-22 with a kill.

The Pirates bounced back early in the second set and grabbed a 7-3 lead. Hovee led the Bruins with three kills as they tried to rally for a comeback and got within two at 9-7, but Whitworth continued to direct the momentum of the game. Ka’ipo Rocha dominated the net with 4 kills and 3 blocks and Bree Riddle served another ace as Whitworth made two 7-2 runs to win 25-15.

A Hovee kill helped George Fox lead 3-0 at the beginning of the third set, but Whitworth came back to tie the set 4-4 and begin a back and forth contest for the lead. The teams were tied 11 different times as the set proved to be a battle for a 2-1 set lead. Kaimi Rocha had 3 kills, and 3 timely blocks by multiple Pirate players helped Whitworth lead 24-22. One more Crossfield kill gave the Bruins a last chance, but Jessica Morrison’s attack error ended it in Whitworth’s favor 25-23.

The fourth set proved to be just as close as the third, and again the teams tied many times throughout play. Ashleie Keimig opened the set with a kill for the Bruins, and Alex Buldoc (Fr., RS, Hana, Hawaii) put one down on George Fox’s side to answer. Whitworth created a 20-15 lead on a Kaimi Rocha kill and a Bardwell and Tomlin block. Morrison and Crossfield answered with 2 blocks to gain Bruin momentum and a Panico kill brought the score to 21-20. Kaimi Rocha slammed down one more kill, and Bardwell’s kill at the end finished the match 25-21.

Whitworth (12-11 overall, 5-6 NWC) will look for another home win against Pacific (Ore.) Saturday night at 5 pm, and George Fox (11-10, 5-6) continues onto play Whitman at 5 pm on Saturday as well.

Go to Athletics Home Page > Volleyball > Sports Releases >