TACOMA, Wash. - The 24th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team packs its bags for one final non-conference tournament, traveling to California for the La Verne Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Last weekend the Lutes (6-2) flew to Texas for a weekend-long tournament, facing Southwestern University, Trinity University, University of Texas Dallas, and Hardin Simmons University, and pulled away with a split, winning two and dropping two, including a 3-2 upset of then seventh-ranked Trinity.

Senior and two-time Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week Danielle Skibiel felt more prepared coming into this new season than in the past, saying the team clicked quicker than previous years and performed more fluidly on the court. 

"Over the years I have noticed we've become closer and closer every season. Even with first years coming in, I feel like connections have quickly been made. The overall dynamic has stayed the same as we are one family who treat each other with love and respect," Skibiel said. "Thanks to our coach Kevin, I have always felt a strong bond between not only my teammates but the coaches that have come and gone as well."

The team dynamic showed on the court in the past weekend, and as the Lutes continue to train for the La Verne tournament this weekend in California Skibiel has confidence in the growth and improvement in her team. 

"As this season progresses I know that we are going to continue to grow our personal relationships with each other and work hard every day to improve our game on the court. I hope that by the end of our season we can leave knowing we have no regrets," Skibiel said. "I hope as a team we give every moment of every game 100% focus and leave everything we got out on the court."

A double major in Environmental Studies and Geoscience, Skibiel believes her participation in athletics has prepared her for her future after graduation. Grateful for her teammates and coaches, she is excited for her last season as a Lute.

"Participating in volleyball has strengthened my ability to work within group settings," Skibiel said. "Volleyball has also given me a huge amount of confidence that I will carry with me wherever I go."

Sept. 13: PLU vs. Whittier in La Verne, California (3 p.m.)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Poets have battled four times on the court with PLU holding a 3-1 advantage in the series. Whittier prevailed in the last meeting, securing the 3-0 sweep during the 2017 season. 
 
About the Poets: Whittier (3-5) got off to a sluggish start, dropping its first four matches of the season but has been on a roll since, winning three of the last four. Among the victims of the Poets has been Centenery College (3-1), Colby-Sawyer College (3-0), and University of California Santa Cruz (3-2). 
 
Katelyn Popoff leads the team offensively, averaging 3.32 kills per set while Makayla Wright and Serena Alvarez quarterback the attack, averaging 5.57 and 3.74 assists per set, respectively. Libero Katie Engel leads the team averaging 4.59 digs per set. 
 
Sept. 13: PLU vs. La Verne in La Verne, California (6 p.m.)
 
Series History: This will be the sixth all-time meeting between the Lutes and Leopards. The past five matches have all been won by La Verne with the last meeting coming during the 2010 campaign. 
 
About the Leopards: Host La Verne (3-5) spent last weekend in Colorado at the Spike It Up Classic, winning two of its four matches. The Leopards bested Willamette University 3-1 to open the tournament before falling in three sets to seventh-ranked and host Colorado College. Day two opened with a 3-0 win over LeTourneau University before stumbling to Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3-1 in the final match of the weekend. 
 
Ayana Mier leads the team with 64 kills on the season while Madison Maynes is the primary setter, dishing up 10.3 assists per set. Mier has additionally been a pest at the net, collecting 17 blocks while Emma Estigoy leads the team with a 5.50 digs per set average. 
 
Sept. 14: PLU vs. Chapman in La Verne, California (1 p.m.)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Panthers first met during the 1999 season with the series being contested eight times since. Chapman enjoys a 5-3 edge in the series, including winning the last two encounters. 
 
About the Panthers: Chapman (6-2) heads into the weekend riding a four-match win streak after wrapping up the Cal Lu Fornia Invitational undefeated. Three of the Panthers' wins at the tourney came in three sets, disposing Centenary, Colby-Sawyer, and Texas Lutheran University by a 3-0 count while claiming a 3-1 win over the Banana Slugs of UC Santa Cruz. 
 
Jessi Lumsden has a team high 100 kills on the young season, averaging 3.70 per set while Sophie Srivastava adds 2.48 kills/set along with a team-high 7.3 assists per set. Cat Helgeson has notched 10 aces through the opening eight matches along with a team-leading 5.81 digs per set. 
 
Sept. 14: PLU vs. Pomona-Pitzer in La Verne, California (4 p.m.)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Sagehens have met just three times with PLU winning all three matches, including the most recent meeting, a 3-0 Lute triumph during the 2017 season. 
 
About the Sagehens: Pomona-Pitzer (4-3) opened up the season red-hot, winning four matches while hosting the Pacific Coast Classic but had its fortunes reversed last weekend at the UTD Tournament, dropping matches to Hardin-Simmons (3-0), Southwestern (3-1), and Trinity (3-1).
 
Adrienne Tong is the Sagehen's primary setter, averaging 8.13 assists per set, setting up P-P's kills leader Isabel Kelly (2.83 per set) who also leads the team with 19 blocks. Lauren Asato chips in a team-best 4.08 digs per set.