TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team gears up for another weekend of home matches inside Olson Gymnasium, hosting Northwest Conference rivals Lewis & Clark College and Pacific University. 
 
The Lutes (14-10, 7-5 NWC) put up a good show on their home turf last weekend, competing against George Fox University and Linfield College for the second time this season. After an upset on Friday night with George Fox pulling away with a 3-1 win, the Lutes made a comeback Saturday against Linfield with a 3-0 shutout.
 
With two more weekends of competitions, the squad is designating this Saturday's match against Pacific as a chance to celebrate the senior Lutes. 
 
Senior Megan Finley has treasured her four years of being a part of the volleyball family, and is grateful for the relationships she has developed with her teammates.
 
"My team has been one of the most important support systems I've had throughout my college experience," Finley said. "Bonding with them has been so important to me because of the connections I have been able to make with the women who I have shared so much of my college experience with."
 
Fellow senior Angelica Hulett shares similar sentiments, fondly recalling memories of her team's adventures off the court.
 
"There are frequent dance battles in the locker room, we scream the Lion King's 'Circle of Life' before every match, along with many other little traditions that have carried on over the years," Hulett said. "We aren't afraid to be our crazy, goofy selves around each other, and that is something I will always remember from PLU volleyball."
 
As the seniors approach the end of the season and get closer to graduation, they reflect on how being a part of Lute athletics has prepared them for life after college.
 
A double-major in Environmental Science and Geoscience, Danielle Skibiel believes volleyball has given her confidence that she will carry with her as she begins to look beyond graduation.
 
"My athletic experience here at PLU has taught me how to persevere through adversity," Skibiel said. "I have learned how to adapt to changes and lean on my teammates for support as I have gained a strong sense of teamwork in group settings."
 
Fellow senior Emma Peters also values the team environment and the opportunity to learn how to communicate with a variety of athletes.
 
"Not everyone communicates in the same way, so being able to adapt and find a happy medium regarding communication will help me going forward in my career or life in general," Peters said. "Knowing everyone's strengths and weaknesses and creating a game plan to accomplish a task will be very important after graduation."
 
These four seniors are a valuable part of the Lute volleyball family as they lead the team to the end of another successful season.
 
The Lutes compete against Lewis & Clark College Friday at 7 p.m. and face Pacific on Saturday at 6 p.m. On Friday, fans are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes an extra night with the best costume earning a prize. On Saturday, the Lutes will honor the senior class prior to the opening set.
 
Nov. 1: PLU vs. Lewis & Clark at Olson Gymnasium (7 p.m.)

Series History: The Lutes and Pioneers have met 89 times on the court since 1980 with PLU holding a 58-31 lead in the all-time series, including winning the last eight straight. PLU needed five sets to pull away with the victory in Portland back on Oct. 4 after getting a monster 26-kill performance from Danielle Skibiel. 
 
About the Pioneers: Lewis & Clark (8-13, 4-9 NWC) heads to Tacoma having dropped seven of its last eight matches. The Pios lone triumph during that stretch was a 3-0 victory at the expense of Linfield College last Friday. L&C fell 3-1 to University of Puget Sound the following day before getting swept in three sets by George Fox on Wednesday evening.

Nov. 2: PLU vs. Pacific at Olson Gymnasium (6 p.m.)

Series History: The all-time series is tilted 57-26 in favor of the Lutes since the 1980 season. The Boxers won the first meeting of the season back on Oct. 5, posting a 3-1 victory in Forest Grove, Oregon. 
 
About the Boxers: Pacific (16-6, 9-3 NWC) heads to Tacoma having won two of its last three games and currently sits in second place in the NWC standings with four matches remaining. 
 
The Boxers collected 3-0 wins over both Lewis & Clark and Whitman College before falling 3-1 last Saturday at home to NWC-leading Whitworth University.