SALEM, Ore. – The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team continued to be red-hot on Friday night at Willamette University.  The Lutes won their third match in a row and ninth out of their last 10 with a 3-1 (25-16, 22-25, 25-23, 25-23) victory over the Bearcats. 
 
With the match all square at one set apiece and PLU trailing 20-15, the Lutes caught fire and the visiting team rattled off seven straight points to take a 22-20 advantage.  With Madeline Dawson serving, Kailee Efros-Bohn and Callie Simmonds picked up kills and PLU took advantage of five Bearcat errors to take control of the match.  Down the stretch, Jazz Alston and McKenzie Pfeiffer had kills to finish off the home team and take a critical 2-1 lead. 
 
"It was a grind," said star libero Halle Hetzler.  "Willamette played great defense.  However, we played out of our minds great volleyball, which allowed us to overtake that third set."
 
The Lutes used that momentum to springboard to an insurmountable 13-5 lead in the fourth and final set.  The Bearcats chipped away at the visitors' lead and with the score 23-22, they began celebrating a tie score, but the PLU defense wouldn't quit and returned the ball and eventually a Baylee Johnson kill gave the Lutes a 24-22 edge.  After a point for the home team, the set ended for the second straight time with a service error by Willamette. 
 
"We all get super excited and really pumped when our teammates earn points," said Hetzler.  "Our loud and intense energy was contagious on and off the court.  It was a great win for Lute volleyball and we are pumped for Lewis & Clark tomorrow.
 
For the match, Pfeiffer led the team with 13 kills and Alston continued her strong play with 11. Emily Dulaney assisted on 39 of PLU's 45 kills and added a pair of kills.  Defensively, Pfeiffer and Hailey Iha had four block assists each, while Halle Hetzler led the team with 24 digs.  Four other Lutes had double-digit digs, including Dulaney (17), Torie Takeuchi (13), Simmonds (12) and Dawson (12). 
 
PLU (11-7, 8-1 NWC) will remain on the road tomorrow night when they travel to Lewis & Clark College.