Complete box score and play by play
McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Nikki Bardwell posted 16 kills and 19 digs to lead Whitworth to a 25-19, 25-23, 19-25, 25-15 win at Linfield Saturday night in a Northwest Conference volleyball match, handing the Wildcats their first loss of the season at Ted Wilson Gym. Bardwell (Sr., OH, Colville, Wash.) hit .410 and did not have a hitting error while leading the Pirates, who improved to 11-9 overall and 4-4 in the NWC. Whitworth has won three of its last four conference matches after starting the NWC slate 1-3. After Linfield took an 11-9 lead in the first set, Whitworth went on a 5-0 run to go up 14-11. The Wildcats tied the set 16-16, but Whitworth went on a quick 5-1 run, capped by two Bardwell kills, for a 21-17 edge. The Bucs won the set 25-19 on a kill by Ka'ipo Rocha (Fr., MB, Pukalani, Hawaii). The second set was a classic back and forth affair. In fact, after the Wildcats rallied from an 18-14 deficit to tie the set 18-18, the teams traded 12 consecutive points before the Pirates won it 25-23 after a clinching block by Bardwell and Holly Tomlin (Sr., MB, Kirkland, Wash.). Tracy Schwada (Jr., RS, Whitefish, Mont.) gave Whitworth an 8-6 lead in the third set, but Linfield went on a 7-1 run to take a 13-9 advantage. The Wildcats stretched the lead to 22-15 after consecutive Pirate errors and won it 25-19 on a kill by Tara Hall. But Whitworth was unfazed and jumped to a quick 4-0 lead in the final set, including a pair of kills by Kaimi Rocha (Fr., OH, Pukalani, Hawaii). The Bucs then stretched the advantage to 11-2 following an ace by Ka'ipo Rocha. The Wildcats never got closer than seven points the rest of the way and Whitworth finished the set, and the match, 25-15 on a Linfield service ace. Kaimi Rocha added 13 kills and 15 digs for the Pirates, who ended a four match losing streak to the Wildcats. Ka'ipo Rocha and Tomlin each added 10 kills, while Bethany Castilleja (Sr., DS, Kennewick, Wash.) led all players with 24 digs. Bree Riddle (Fr., S, Spokane, Wash.) dished 32 assists, while Jordon Hoffnagle added 21 assists. The Pirates hit .188 as a team. Emily Vuylsteke led Linfield (8-4 overall, 4-4 NWC) with 12 kills, while Samantha Lau added 10 kills and a team-high 20 digs. The Wildcats hit .185 as a team. Whitworth will return to Oregon next weekend to take on Willamette (Friday) and Lewis & Clark (Saturday). Go to Athletics Home Page > Volleyball > Sports Releases > |
