TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team extended its home winning streak to eight matches on Friday night, steamrolling Northwest Conference rival Linfield University 3-0 (27-25, 25-16, 25-12) inside Olson Gymnasium.
 
The Lutes (9-7, 6-1 NWC) scored five of the match's opening six points but the pesky Wildcats (4-8, 0-5 NWC) clawed back into the first set, taking a 15-14 lead on a Lute attack error. Linfield had a chance to take the opening set, owning a 24-23 lead before committing a service error. PLU capitalized with a Callie Simmonds ace giving the Lutes' the 27-25 set win.
 
Pacific Lutheran held a tenuous 13-11 lead midway through the second but finished off the set on a 12-5 run with an Emily Dulaney ace giving the Lutes the 25-16 win. PLU finished off Linfield in the third, boasting a .357 attack percentage and closing the set on a 12-2 run to secure the 25-12 win for the three-set sweep.
 
"It was a great comeback in the first set that really gave us momentum the rest of the night," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. 
 
The Lutes matched a season-high with 12 aces on the night, while boasting a .245 attack percentage for the match.
 
Baylee Johnson led the Lute attack with 11 kills with Jazz Alston netting nine kills on just 16 total attacks. McKenzie Pfeiffer and Hailey Iha each added seven kills. Dulaney racked up 40 assists along with four aces while Halle Hetzler had 26 digs. Simmonds had four aces while Tori Takeuchi had two along with nine digs.

Hear from @PLUvolleyball's Jazz Alston who finished with 9 kills in the Lutes' 3-set sweep of Linfield #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/bZg638pkYT

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) October 9, 2021

 
The Lutes are back on the court tomorrow evening, welcoming Pacific University to Olson Gymnasium. First serve is slated for 6 p.m.