Contact: Mark Albanese, Director of Sports Communication

TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball squad opened Northwest Conference play with a bang on Friday inside Olson Gymnasium, pleasing the home crowd with a 3-2 (24-26, 25-13, 25-16, 24-26, 15-9) victory over Willamette University.

The visiting Bearcats (3-7, 1-1 NWC) stole the opening set 26-24, collecting the final six points to rally for the set win. The Lutes (3-6, 1-0 NWC) responded in the second and third sets, pounding Willamette 25-13 and 15-16 before dropping another 26-24 decision with the Bearcats netting the final four points to force a deciding fifth set. 

In the fifth, a Roshel Donwen kill sparked a 6-0 Lute run, turning a 9-9 deadlock into a 15-9 victory with Isabella Zubrod capping off the night with a kill for the match point.

"We're a pretty young team trying and are still trying to find ourselves. We had a little bit of inconsistency tonight," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.

Five Lutes ended the night with double-digit kills, including Danielle Skibiel who led the way with 15 while Mackenzie Harris added 13. Gabrielle Alley had 12 kills and 22 digs while Madi Collier tallied 27 assists. Caylie Shiramizu anchored the defense with 39 digs while the Lutes combined for 12 service aces.

"They had some good defensive plays. We had a heartbreaker in the fourth set and it's great for our confidence to come back like that in the fifth."

PLU continues its homestand tomorrow afternoon, facing Lewis & Clark College at 5 p.m.

"Lewis & Clark is very similar to Willamette. They have a great libero and some strong hitters. We need to work on getting more consistent as we continue conference play."