TACOMA, Wash. - The ninth-ranked Pacific Lutheran University volleyball squad made quick work of crosstown rival University of Puget Sound on Wednesday night, collecting the 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-22) victory to close out the Lutes' opening homestand inside Olson Gymnasium.

PLU (10-1, 3-0 Northwest Conference) never trailed in the opening set, jumping out to a 9-3 lead on its way to a 25-20 set win. The visiting Loggers (5-6, 2-1 NWC) built a 10-9 lead in the second set before PLU ripped off the next six points to seize a 15-10 advantage. McKenzie Pfeiffer ignited the run with a kill while Mackenzie Harris and Chloe Epker both tallied kills during the Lute scoring spree. Pacific Lutheran kep its foot on the gas with a Danielle Skibiel kill giving the Lutes' the 25-15 set win.

The Lutes surged to an early 14-3 lead in the third before Puget Sound battled back, closing within two points on several occasions before a service error gave the 25-22 win to secure the match and take the opening leg of the annual Battle of the South Sound.

"I thought we played pretty solid tonight," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. "It was good to see Lauren Wilson really turn it on tonight and Mackenzie Harris was great. Had 13 kills and no errors and hit .700!"

Harris paced the Lute attack with 13 kills while Lauren Wilson and Skibiel each added eight. The Lutes. were dialed in at the service line, netting nine aces with four coming off the serves of Emma Peters while Isabella Zubrod added three. Zubrod additionally led the team with 21 assists and 12 digs. Chloe Epker accrued 12 digs as well while Ava Nelson finished with 20 assists. 

The Lutes return to the court on Saturday, making the trip to Salem, Oregon to face Willamette University.