TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team continued to run roughshod over the competition at the Puget Sound Premiere on Saturday, earning a pair of 3-0 victories to close the tournament undefeated. The Lutes downed host University of Puget Sound 3-0 (25-19, 28-26, 25-23) to open the day before vanquishing Salve Regina University 3-0 (25-11, 25-22, 26-24).

"It was awesome to get some new faces in today and have a great team effort like that," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. 

"We learned that we never give up. We were down at parts in both matches but persevered. It's hard to prepare for a four-match, two-day tournament. There's nothing in practice that can simulate that."
 
Against the Loggers (2-1), PLU surrendered the opening point of the match but was in the driver's seat the rest of set one, prevailing 25-19. Pacific Lutheran (4-0) was against the ropes in the second set, staring at a 24-21 deficit before scoring seven of the next nine to pull out the win. Facing set point, the Lutes got a kill from Elle Thomas followed by two in a row from Claire Hindman. The teams traded jabs before kills from Breeze Bartle and Baylee Johnson gave the Lutes the 28-26 win.
 
The Loggers led 18-12 in the third before ripping off nine straight points to seize the 21-18 lead. UPS tied the game at 21 but a late surge by the Lutes secured the win, including a match clinching kill from Elle Thomas. 
 
Thomas had a match-high 15 kills with Johnson adding 10. Bartle had five blocks while Liv Evaro paced the Lutes with 31 assists. Halle Hetzler led the team with 18 digs with Torie Takeuchi adding 16.

Key to @PLUVolleyball's win over UPS was Baylee Johnson's set clinching kill for the come from behind win in set 2 #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/5UxF81EXmS

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) September 3, 2022

 
The nightcap saw the Lutes trounce the Seahawks (1-3) for the second time in as many days. PLU ripped off 11 of the opening 13 points in set one, breezing to a 25-11 set win. PLU scored seven of the first nine in the second before pulling out the 25-22 win before closing things out with a tight 26-24 win in the third.
 
Bartle and Thomas led the Lutes with seven kills in a match that saw 17 Lutes see game action. Evaro had 22 assists while Hetzler netted 17 digs.
 
PLU finishes the tournament having won all 12 sets they played. 
 
The Lutes return to action on Friday, competing at the Augsburg Invitational.