FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Whitworth bounced back from a slow start to earn a 3-1 win at Pacific University in a Northwest Conference volleyball match on Saturday night.
The 24th-ranked Pirates won 21-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-12 to improve to 18-2 overall and 10-0 in the NWC with their fourth straight road victory. Whitworth will play their fifth road match in a row on Tuesday night at Whitman.
The Boxers (8-11, 3-8) used a 6-1 run in the first set to go ahead 9-6. Pacific eventually stretched the lead to 18-11 after a Pirate attack error. Whitworth managed to cut the margin back to two points three times late in the set, the final coming when a block from Abigail Hudson and Lauren Kremer made it 23-21. Pacific got the final two points of the set, winning on a kill by Emma Velcheck.
Trailing 11-9 in the second set, Whitworth finally found some momentum, using a 7-2 run to go ahead 16-13 on a kill by Ella Jimenez. A Jimenez block made it 23-16 and the Pirates won the set on a Pacific attack error.
Whitworth jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third set and was in control when Kremer's kill made it 15-9. The Boxers answered with a 9-2 run to go ahead 18-17 after a Velcheck kill. The Pirates responded with a 4-0 run and never trailed again in the match. Whitworth won the set on a Pacific service error.
The Pirates jumped ahead 6-1 in the fourth set and won going away, opening leads of 12-2 and 18-6. Whitworth hit .321 in the final set while holding the Boxers to a -0.040 hitting percentage.
Jimenez had 21 points with 18 kills, two aces and a block. Kremer added 13.5 points with 11 kills (.455) and five block assists. Amblessed Okemgbo also had 11 kills. Josephine Thompson had 27 assists while Megan Lange had 19 to help Whitworth hit .243. Miche finished with 20 digs.
Mara Murphy had 21 points for Pacific with 19 kills and two aces. Velcheck finished with 13 kills. Pacific hit .160 in the match.
