Pirates receive tough draw

Whitworth will face third-ranked California Lutheran in the opening round of the NCAA Division III volleyball tournament at 8 p.m. on Friday on the Regals’ home court in Thousand Oaks, California.

CLU, 28-2, the 2013 NCAA Division III runner-up, will host an eight-team regional this weekend.

Whitworth is 21-5 and Northwest Conference co-champion with Pacific Lutheran. PLU is also in the Thousand Oaks field and will play Colorado College in the first round.

• Whitworth was well represented when NWC coaches voted for postseason awards.

Junior setter Maddye Dinsmore was selected the NWC Player of the Year; Katie Bodecker, in her second season, was voted Coach of the Year; and junior Nicole Leonard was first-team All-NWC.

Brenna Bruil, a sophomore, is on the second team and  Cassandra Mendoza, a freshman from Tekoa, is honorable mention.