Whitworth third in cross country regional

The Whitworth University women’s cross country team barely missed an automatic berth into the NCAA Championships on Saturday, finishing third at the NCAA DIII West Regional behind Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Willamette respectively at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in Claremont California on Saturday.

Sophomore Amanda Blankenship finished the 6,000 meter run in 14th place with a time of 22:52.82 to lead the Pirates.

Whitworth can receive an at-large bid which will be announced today.

The Whitworth men finished its 8,000 meter race 12th out of an 18 team field.

Savannah Blinn recorded six kills and four other Bulldog women finished with five each, but Gonzaga was unable to overcome the University of San Diego (23-3, 15-2 West Coast Conference), falling in straight sets 25-14, 25-19, 25-17 at the Jenny Craig Pavilion in San Diego.

Saturday’s match was the final road contest of the season for Gonzaga (11-14, 7-9 WCC).

• Freshman Ali Forde recorded 15 kills in her first career start and the University of Idaho secured its fourth straight victory with a win over Missouri-Kansas 25-20, 25-20, 19-25, 25-22.

• Senior Lindsay Niemeier recorded 23 assists and four digs, and Ashley Wright added four kills and eight digs as Eastern Washington wrapped up its home schedule with a straight set loss to North Dakota 25-17, 25-21, 25-18 at Reese Court in Cheney.

Rowing

The Head of the Snake hosted by Washington State and including the Gonzaga men’s rowing team was cancelled Saturday due to high winds.