Spokane, Wash. – The Pioneers had their best serve-receive match of the year against the defending Northwest Conference champion Whitworth University.
THE BASICS
Whitworth 3, Lewis & Clark 0
(Lewis & Clark 1-17, NWC 0-13)
(Whitworth 15-6, NWC 9-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Sophomore
Emily Strand and junior
Izzy Willis each had eight kills. The two outside hitters combined for over half of the Pios' 26 kills in the match.
Whitworth used several small runs in the first set to gain the advantage over Lewis & Clark College. The Pioneers were down in the first set 7-6 before the Pirates started to pull away and win the set 25-12.
The second set started similar to the first, as the Pios were down 7-6. The Pirates went on a 9-0 run before Strand ended it with a kill. Whitworth was too strong defensively in the set as they recorded four team blocks on their way to a 25-15 win.
Lewis & Clark made a change in the third set as sophomore
Debi Chun moved to the libero position. She recorded six of her team-high ten digs in the set. The Pios held their only lead of the match at 2-0. Offensively, the Pioneers were able to put together two 4-0 runs to keep the score close, but the Pirates were too much in the end and won 25-23.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Senior Ashley Kane recorded 21 assists, making this the fifth match in a row she had over 20.
- The team had four receiving errors on 68 receptions for a .941 percent, a season-high percentage.
- Willis posted a career-high two assists and notched two aces for the second-straight match.
- Strand posted eight or more kills for the third time in the past six matches. Eight kills are tied for her second-most this season.
WHO'S NEXT
The Pios continue on their three-match road trip on Saturday at 6 pm, when they travel to take on Whitman College.
