PARKLAND – Sixteenth-ranked Pacific Lutheran knocked off No. 14 Puget Sound 3-1 on Wednesday night at Olson Auditorium's Names Family Court. The Lutes took the match over the Loggers by scores of 25-21, 19-25, 25-15 and 26-24.

The victory improved the Lutes to a 3-0 Northwest Conference record (7-4 overall) and secured them the top spot in the current NWC standings.

"Good overall volleyball tonight, not only on our part but on UPS' part as well," PLU head coach Kevin Aoki said. "You can see why both teams are ranked in the top 20."

PLU junior Amy Wooten led her team with a .391 attack percentage (12 kills in 23 attempts) in addition to her four blocks. Bethany Huston and Lucy Capron added 11 kills apiece while Haley Urdahl tallied 10.

Setting up the Lutes' offense was Samantha North with 46 assists. Libero Amber Aguiar provided 31 digs for the Lutes while Haley Urdahl added 21.

For the Loggers, Jackie Harvey led the attack with 10 kills while Jenni Brehove contributed 31 assists and 25 digs. Emily Convery led defensively with six blocks for UPS.

In the first set, PLU jumped out to a quick 7-3 led. The Loggers retaliated by taking 10 of the next 16 points to tie it at 13 apiece. The score remained tight for the next 12 points, but the Lutes took six of the final nine to secure the set victory.

Momentum shifted to the Loggers in the second set as they took off with a 7-1 lead. Down the stretch, the Lutes would push it to 17-20 but were unable to take over, falling 19-25.

With a loud home-court crowd behind them, the Lutes stormed into the third set, taking 11 of the first 13 points. The Loggers would push a 13-19 score, but PLU secured their victory by scoring six of the final eight points.

The fourth set saw a tight battle, PLU fighting for the match victory and UPS fighting to push a fifth set. The Lutes took a fast 5-1 lead but the Loggers rallied back to tie it up at six. The set would go on to feature five more ties.

PLU held match-point advantage with a score of 24-22, but the Loggers held on to force a 24-24 tie. Two consecutive kills by senior Bethany Huston would secure the set and match victory over their cross-town rivals.

"We came out in the third set and served the ball really tough on them," Aoki said. "True to form, UPS came back in the fourth set. Exciting Volleyball for us. We just have to continue improving all the time."

Pacific Lutheran heads back out on the road this weekend, traveling to Salem, Ore., Saturday for a 7 p.m. matchup against Willamette.