2023 NWC Volleyball Championship Digital Match Program

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Setting the Scene: Four teams head to Olson Gymnasium for the inaugural Northwest Conference Tournament. The single-elimination tournament between the top four teams from the regular season will decide who gets the automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Division III Tournament.

Pacific Lutheran University enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed and host with Whitworth University the No. 2 seed, George Fox University the No. 3 seed, and Willamette University the No. 4 seed.

Team Roster
Team Statistics
Team Schedule
About the Lutes: PLU (17-7, 16-0 NWC) wrapped up the conference slate undefeated for the third time in program history. The Lutes earned a reverse sweep of George Fox on the road last Friday in the penultimate match of the regular season before taking down Lewis & Clark on Saturday's finale.
As a team, the Lutes rank 14th nationally in attacks per set (39.12) and 17th in digs per set (18.99). PLU leads the NWC in those categories along with leading the NWC in assists per set (11.53), kills per set (12.47), and team digs (1,728).
Baylee Johnson leads the Lutes in kills, averaging 3.08 per set while Hailey Iha has a team-best 0.267 hitting percentage. Olivia Evaro quarterbacks the offense, leading the NWC and ranking 15th nationally in assists per set (9.96).
Halle Hetzler ranks second nationally in digs per set (6.77) and fourth in the nation in total digs (616).
Against the Field: The Lutes own a 6-0 record against the rest of the tournament field. PLU swept Willamette the previous two meetings, prevailing 3-0 back on Sept. 22 in Salem and taking a 3-0 win over the Bearcats on Oct. 21 inside Olson Gymnasium. PLU beat Whitworth 3-1 in Spokane back on Sept. 30 and needed five sets to take down the Pirates on Senior Night on Oct. 28. PLU defeated George Fox 3-1 on Oct. 6 inside Olson and needed five sets to down the Bruins 3-2 in Newberg last Friday night.
Team Roster
Team Statistics
Team Schedule
About the Pirates: Whitworth (15-9, 12-4 NWC) heads into the postseason having won eight of its last 10 matches. The Pirates split their last two weekends of league play, downing Puget Sound 3-2 on Oct. 27 before falling 3-2 to PLU the following day. The Pirates dropped another five setter on Nov. 1 to Whitman before rebounding in the season finale with a 3-0 victory over Linfield.
Whitworth leads the NWC and ranks seventh nationally in blocks, averaging 2.42 per set while sitting eighth in D3 in team blocks (232).
Ella Jimenez leads the team in kills, averaging 3.14 per set this fall. Mya Rodriguez is the team's primary setter, averaging 5.69 per set while Kaity Barr leads the NWC and ranks 11th nationally in blocks per set (1.17). Defensively, Taylor Miche paces the team, averaging 4.23 digs per set.
Against the Field: The Pirates are 3-3 against the rest of the tournament field. Whitworth swept Willamette by identical 3-0 scores during the season— first on Sept. 15 in Spokane and again in Salem on Oct. 13. The Pirates split with George Fox, falling 3-2 on the road on Sept. 23 and winning 3-0 on Oct. 21 in Spokane. Whitworth was 0-2 against the top-seeded Lutes, falling 3-1 at home on Sept. 30 and 3-2 inside Olson Gymnasium on Oct. 28.
Team Roster
Team Statistics
Team Schedule
About the Bruins: George Fox (15-8, 11-5 NWC) heads into the tournament looking to buck a two-match slide. The Bruins won six of seven to lock up a position in the postseason before falling 3-2 to PLU on Friday night and 3-1 to Willamette on Saturday.
The Bruins lead the NWC and rank 29th nationally in hitting percentage (0.227) while ranking both second in the league in kills per set (12.39) and assists per set (11.42).
Kassandra Staton leads the team in kills, averaging 3.04 per set while Kennedy Kibby is the team leader in both aces (0.49 per set) and assists (7.87). Defensively, Piper Harrop is third in the NWC in digs per set (5.27).
Against the Field: The Bruins are 2-4 against the rest of the tournament field. George Fox split the season series with Whitworth and Willamette while getting swept by the Lutes. The Bruins defeated Whitworth 3-2 at home on Sept. 23 but was as fortunate on the return meeting, falling 3-0 in Spokane on Oct. 21. GFU swept Willamette 3-0 in Salem on Oct. 7 but fell 3-1 to the Bearcats in the season finale on Nov. 4. GFU dropped two against the Lutes, stumbling 3-1 inside Olson Gymnasium on Oct. 6 and getting edged 3-2 last Friday in Newberg.
Team Roster
Team Statistics
Team Schedule
About the Bearcats: Willamette (14-9, 9-7 NWC) punched its ticket to the tournament on the penultimate day of the regular season with a 3-2 victory over Puget Sound. That victory was part of a late season push that saw the Bearcats win three of their final four matches. That included a 3-2 win over Lewis & Clark on Oct. 25, and a 3-1 win over George Fox in Saturday's regular season finale.
Willamette ranks second in the NWC in aces, averaging 2.16 per set while ranking last in the league (ninth) in blocks per set (1.16).
Olivia Cadien is the Bearcats' leader in kills, averaging 3.55 per set while Emma Porter leads the squad in assists with 10.85 per set. Shyla Sato ranks second in the conference in digs per set, averaging 3.55.
Against the Field: Willamette owns a 1-5 record against the rest of the tournament field. The Bearcats' lone win was the 3-1 victory over George Fox in the season finale. Willamette was swept in three sets in both meetings against PLU and Whitworth while falling 3-0 to GFU in the first meeting of the season.

Team Rosters (PDF)

Olson Gymnasium: PLU's Olson Gymnasium has been a daunting venue for opposing teams with the Lutes enjoying a 132-20 record inside the facility since the 2006 season. That includes unbeaten home records during the 2018, 2014, 2013, and 2007 campaigns. This fall, the Lutes are currently 8-0 at home.