FOREST GROVE, Ore. — Baylee Johnson racked up a career-high 22 kills on Thursday night inside the Stroller Center, guiding the Northwest Conference leading Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-17, 25-15, 23-25, 25-22) victory over host Pacific University.

In the opening set the host Boxers (5-14, 1-9 NWC) owned a 7-6 lead before the Lutes (10-7, 9-0 NWC) ripped off five consecutive points to take an 11-7 advantage. PLU never trailed the rest of the set, scoring the final six points of the set, including three kills from Baylee Johnson and a set clinching ace from Halle Hetzler for the 25-17 victory. 
 
10 of the opening 15 points of set two went to the Lutes who cruised to the 25-15 win. Pacific refused to go away in the third, squeaking out a 25-23 win to avoid the sweep. Pacific Lutheran raced out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth set but Pacific wouldn't back down, tying the set on five occasions, including at 14-14.  A Johnson kill kicked off a 7-2 run and never looked back. Pacific attempted one final rally, scoring four straight to pull within two before Johnson closed out the match with her 22nd kill of the night to secure the 25-22 set win. 

Johnson finished the night with 22 kills on 46 attacks, boasting a season-best .370 hitting percentage. Hailey Iha had 16 kills and no errors, finishing with a .571 hitting percentage while Claire Hindman had 11 kills. 48 of PLU's 54 assists came off the hands of Olivia Evaro while on the defensive end, Halle Hetzler and Torie Takeuchi had 27 and 17 digs, respectively. Hetzler additionally had four aces. 

"Pacific played well and they're a lot better than their record shows," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. 

"I like the fact that we hung in there knowing that in the second round of conference play we're going to get everyone's best shot."

The Lutes are back on the court tomorrow night, facing Linfield University at 7 p.m. in McMinnville, Oregon.