TACOMA, Wash. - The defending Northwest Conference Champion Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team heads into the 2018 season with vaulted expectations in Head Coach Kevin Aoki's 23^rd year at the helm.
 
"Obviously the expectations are pretty high going into the season. We're ranked 22^nd(in the nation) but they go off last year and the NWC goes off last year too," said Aoki who was the NWC Coach of the Year last season and currently stands six wins shy of 400 for his career. 
 
"We just need to meet those expectations. We were so close to advancing to the finals of regionals and really making that next step last year. But you have to play well, be a little lucky, and be a little injury free, and I think this year's team has a chance to go far."
 
The Lutes (21-5, 14-2 NWC in 2017) won the program's 10^th league title last fall before taking down then fourth-ranked Trinity University 3-1 in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. PLU took top-ranked Colorado College to three sets before ultimately bowing out of the tournament after a 3-2 setback. 
 
Returning for the Lutes will be AVCA Honorable Mention All-American Mackenzie Harris along with Second Team All-NWC selections Caylie Shiramizu and Chloe Epker. PLU was a force at the net last season, leading the nation (out of 429 Division III schools) in blocking (2.55 per set) with Harris a big reason why. The senior to be ranked second individually in the nation in blocks per set (1.28) and 15^thin total blocks (118).
 
"We should be tough at the net. Our two middle blockers are back with Mackenzie Harris and Danielle Skibiel and that gives a lot of experience at that middle position."
 
One gaping hole for the Lutes will be the loss of NWC Player of the Year Kiana Calles, who led the team and was third in the conference in assists. Calles will stay on board as a manager after finishing her eligibility last fall but her ability to feed the Lute attack will be missed. 
 
"It's a big void obviously when you lose the conference player of the year. But she will still be involved with the program as our manager as she has one more year at school. Isabella Zubrod has always been a setter so she will have very little problem stepping into that role. And we'll also have one of our two first years (Ava Nelson and Emily Dulaney) fight out for the other spot, probably running a 6-2 or some variation of that." 
 
The Lutes first test of the season comes this Friday and Saturday, making the trek across town for the Puget Sound Premiere at the University of Puget Sound's Memorial Gymnasium. The Lutes open with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Elizabethtown College on Friday before facing Millikin University and host Puget Sound on Saturday.
 
"We're just trying to mesh and play together. Obviously new team, new personality, and it sometimes takes a while to get going. We have eight solid matches before conference starts and obviously we want to do well in the non-conference as it's important for seeding or getting into the NCAA Tournament. Our focus is to win the NWC because then you get the automatic berth and don't have to worry about sitting around and waiting for the at-large." 
 
"It starts off pretty quickly and next thing you know we're playing Pacific on that Friday in two weeks. We should be able to do quite well in the non-conference but we'll see. We don't know how all the teams will match up but we'll worry about our side first." 
 
Aug. 31: PLU vs. UW-Oshkosh in Tacoma, Wash. (11 a.m.)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Titans have never met on the court.
 
About the Titans: UW-Oshkosh finished the 2017 season with a 20-15 record and a 3-4 record in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. The Titans return three All-Conference honorees including Tina Elstner who led the WIAC with 47 service aces and was third in kills with 391. 
 
Aug. 31: PLU vs. Elizabethtown in Tacoma, Wash. (5 p.m.)
 
Series History: This is the first ever meeting between the Lutes and Blue Jays. 
 
About the Blue Jays: Elizabethtown wrapped up 2017 with a 19-10 overall record with a 2-4 mark in Landmark Conference action. The Blue Jays head into the season projected to finish fourth in the seven-team conference, sharing that spot in the preseason coaches' poll with Moravian College. Last year Mackenzie Garner was the focal point of the offense, earning First Team All-League after owning a conference best 3.7 kills per set.
 
Sept. 1: PLU vs. Millikin in Tacoma, Wash. (11 a.m.)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Big Blue have never met on the court. 
 
About the Big Blue: Millikin advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament last year, finishing the season with a 29-8 overall record and an unblemished 8-0 record within the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
 
Despite winning the CCIW and ranking 16^thin the AVCA Preseason Poll, the Big Blue were picked to finish third within their own league. Millikin will be powered by All-CCIW Second Teamer Emily Seegmiller and reigning CCIW Freshman of the Year Maddie Holland. 
 
Sept. 1: PLU vs. Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. (5 p.m.)
 
Series History: Longtime rivals, the Lutes and Loggers have met 87 times with UPS enjoying a 57-30 edge in the all-time series. PLU has had the upper hand as of late, winning the last three encounters. 
 
About the Loggers: Puget Sound finished last season with an 11-12 record and an even 8-8 mark in NWC action. The Loggers will rely on an abundance of youth with 18 underclassmen to go along with the squad's four seniors and was picked to finish in the middle of the pack in the NWC, being picked fifth in the preseason coaches' poll.