TACOMA, Wash. — It took five sets but the Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team stretched its win streak to three matches on Friday inside Olson Gymnasium, keeping in the hunt for the Northwest Conference crown with a 3-2 (25-15, 25-21, 13-25, 19-25, 15-4) victory over Pacific University.
 
PLU, winners of three straight and five of its last six, sit one game out of first place with three matches left in the regular season.
 
It was a back and forth match with the Lutes winning the opening two sets before the Boxers battled back, taking sets three and four to force the winner take all fifth set. The fifth set was knotted at three before the Lutes pulled away, getting a kill from Breeze Bartle that led to the Lutes scoring the next six points and 12 of the final 13 to cement the win with a blowout 15-4 fifth set victory.  
 
"It was another five setter tonight for us. It was a great fifth set after coming out in the fourth set a little flat and credit to Pacific. The key was gaining a little momentum at the end of the fourth set and that carried us over to the fifth. We're excited to be back at home tomorrow to honor our five seniors," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. 
 
The Lutes scored six of the match's first eight points, getting a set-clinching kill from Baylee Johnson to take the first set 25-15. 
 
Pacific Lutheran never trailed in the second set, building an early 14-7 advantage. The Boxers methodically clawed back into the set, tying it at 21. PLU ripped off the next four points, getting a kill from Breeze Bartle and two blocks by Hailey Iha to secure the 25-21 set win. 
 
PLU tallied the opening two points of the third set, getting kills from Claire Hindman and Elle Thomas but Pacific scored nine of the next 10, taking a 9-3 lead. The Boxers held the lead the rest of the prevailing 25-13.
 
The momentum stayed with the Boxers in the fourth, charging out to a 20-10 lead. The Lutes continued to fight, crawling within four at 22-18 and again at 23-19 but ran out of gas with Pacific taking the fourth 25-19 to force a decisive fifth set. 

Lute Sport Network's Jonathan Cohen catches up with Breeze Bartle who had eight kills in @PLUVolleyball's five set thriller over Pacific #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/MQW740WCC9

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) October 29, 2022

 
Elle Thomas had 15 kills and three aces for the Lutes while Baylee Johnson and Breeze Bartle both ended the night with eight kills. Hailey Iha had six blocks while Olivia Evaro had 32 assists and 10 digs. Halle Hetzler added 36 digs to her all-time career record while Torie Takeuchi added 12 digs.  
 
The Lutes return to the court tomorrow night, hosting Willamette University at 7 p.m.