TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team successfully defending its turf in the home opener on Friday night, weathering a late charge and outlasting Northwest Conference rival Willamette University to pick up the 3-2 (25-17, 25-20, 21-25, 21-25, 15-6) victory inside Olson Gymnasium.
 
The Lutes (4-6, 1-0 NWC) were rolling in the first set, scoring the opening six points and led wire-to-wire for the 25-17 victory. The opening set including scoring seven straight midway through the set, turning a 14-10 lead into a 21-10 advantage.
 
The Bearcats clawed back in the second set, scoring six of the opening eight points. PLU trailed 19-15 before closing the set on a 10-1 run, including a set sealing kill from Jazz Alston.
 
PLU led 19-16 in the third before the tide shifted as Willamette netted nine of the final 11 points to steal the set win. The Bearcats never trailed in the fourth, collecting another 25-21 win to force a decisive fifth set. 
 
Willamette tallied the opening point of the fifth but it was all Lutes after that, ripping off the next four points and eight of the next nine. PLU kept its foot on the gas with an Emily Dulaney kill giving the Lutes the 15-6 win to secure the match.
 
McKenzie Pfeiffer powered the offense with 17 kills with Baylee Johnson and Callie Simmonds adding 14 and 12, respectively. Pfeiffer additionally led the team with six blocks with Simmonds registering 18 digs. Emily Dulaney had a double-double of 47 assists and 12 digs while Halle Hetzler had a team-best four aces and 29 digs. 
 

.@PLUVolleyball's McKenzie Pfeiffer talks to senior Ryan Pearson after the Lutes big win in the NWC and home opener against Willamette #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/WmHaYIJGgd

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) September 18, 2021

 
The Lutes are back on the court on Saturday evening, hosting Lewis & Clark College at 6 p.m.