Whitworth Sweeps Willamette in Northwest Conference Match

Willamette had 13 kills in the first game and 15 in the third, but fell to 4-16 overall, 0-10 in the NWC.

Salem-News.com Sports

SPOKANE, Wash. - Nicole Vander Meulen provided 13 kills and Angie Florence added 11 kills, leading Whitworth College to a 30-22, 30-14, 30-28 victory over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference contest Saturday at Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Jessica Durham earned nine kills and 12 digs for Willamette. Mary Butler contributed eight kills, while Alona Lyamin led the Bearcats with 16 digs. Julie Stutzman and Jessica Drumm produced 12 digs apiece. Drumm also registered 14 assists, while Brittany Ashby supplied 11 assists.

The Pirates led 13-9 and 16-11 in the first game, before gradually achieving a 30-22 win. Whitworth held the Bearcats to five kills in the second game to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Willamette rallied from an 18-14 deficit in the third game to take a 23-22 lead on a kill by Drumm. The Bearcats led 25-23 following a block by Butler and Drumm. The Pirates tied the game at 25-25, but Willamette regained an advantage at 26-25 and 27-26. Whitworth tied the game at 27, then Vander Meulen earned kills on three of the next four rallies, as the Pirates completed the match with a 30-28 win.

Vander Meulen and Florence combined for 24 of Whitworth’s 48 kills. Nikki Bardwell, Tamra Stark and Holly Tomlin each added eight kills for the Pirates. Florence added a match-high 20 digs, while Cassie Moore earned 18 digs and Holly Ridings tacked on 17 digs. Ridings also amassed 43 assists.

The Bearcats play again on Friday, in a Northwest Conference game at Pacific University. Match time in Forest Grove is slated for 7:00 PM.

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