SPOKANE - Using a strong defensive effort, the Lewis-Clark State College women's volleyball team remained undefeated on the young season as it swept Whitworth University 25-23, 25-12, 25-23 on Wednesday night.
LCSC, ranked No. 16 in the NAIA, improved to 5-0 with the victory and all five have been in straight sets.
Whitworth, an NCAA Division III team, falls to 1-1 on the season.
"Whitworth is much improved from last year," LCSC coach Jen Greeny said. "They played well. Fortunately, we played very well defensively."
The Warriors outblocked the Pirates 11.5-4 and LC's total was a season high. The Warriors also had 47 digs in the match.
"Defensively, we did a good job tonight," Greeny said. "But we hit only .159 as a team. We'll have to improve on that this weekend."
LCSC's defense held Whitworth to a .031 hitting percentage and only 24 kills on the night.
Despite the numbers, Whitworth was able to hang with LCSC in the first and third games. In the opening game, LCSC led 10-3 before the Pirates rallied to tie it at 20. Kills by Nichole Graybeal and Lauryn Herrick helped the Warriors scored the next four points. The Pirates rallied to cut it to 24-23 but a kill by Herrick ended the game.
The Warriors then rolled in the second game by scoring 15 of the final 21 points.
Whitworth jumped out to a 7-2 edge in the third game and led by as much as 16-10. Leading 20-15, Whitworth watched LCSC run off 10 of the next 13 points, including five of the final six points, to wrap up the victory.
Deddiy Alaimaleata and Graybeal had 10 kills each for LCSC, while Herrick added nine. Graybeal also was huge at the net with 5.5 blocks.
Senior setter Kim Fong had 31 assists, while senior Katie Hinrichs added 10 digs. Kaylee Rector, Kelli Tikker, and Chelsea Shears all had eight digs apiece.
LCSC will catch a flight on Thursday for Daytona Beach, Fla., to take part in the two-day Embry-Riddle Labor Day Tournament. On Friday, the Warriors take on Wayland Baptist and the University of Northwestern of Ohio. On Saturday, LCSC will face Madonna and Oklahoma Baptist.
