TACOMA, Wash. — The Lutes are back on top. The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team clinched the program's 12th Northwest Conference regular season title on Saturday night after outlasting Whitworth University 3-2 (17-25, 25-21, 25-23, 8-25, 15-12) inside Olson Gymnasium.
 
The Lutes' (15-17, 14-0 NWC) regular season crown— it's first since 2018— gives PLU the No. 1 seed and home court advantage for the inaugural NWC Tournament to be held on Nov. 10-11. 
 
Saturday was a slugfest between the top two teams in the league and lived up the billing. The visiting Pirates (14-8, 11-3 NWC) raced out to an early 8-1 lead in the opening set. The Lutes pulled within a point at 13-12 on a Torie Takeuchi ace but Whitworth answered with eight straight and held a comfortable lead en route to a 25-17 set win.
 
A pair of Takeuchi service aces helped PLU storm out to a 5-1 lead in the second set. Visiting Whitworth answered with five straight points later in the set to take a 14-13 lead. PLU answered with nine of the next 11 and survived a late charge from Whitworth to net the 25-21 set win. 
 
Little separated the two teams in the third set. In the end it was an Elle Thomas kill that gave PLU the 25-23 set win. Set four was all Pirates, netting eight of the first nine points and leading wire-to-wire for the 25-8 set win to force a decisive fifth set.
 
The fifth set was a back and forth affair with four lead changes and seven ties. In the end it was late kills from Claire Hindman and Baylee Johnson to deliver the Lutes the 15-12 win to secure the match and the conference title. 

14 in a row! @PLUVolleyball clinches its 12th NWC regular season title in program history with a nail biting 3-2 win over Whitworth! #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/dhBFLEbg5v

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) October 29, 2023

 
"Well that was one for the ages," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.
 
"In my 28 years that had to be one of the most incredible matches that we've played. Credit to Whitworth because they really played a great match. It's not often a team can comeback from losing 25-8 and win the championship in the fifth but it's a testament to this team."
 
Johnson and Hindman led the Lutes with 11 kills apiece with Olivia Evaro netting a match-high 40 assists. Takeuchi had six aces while Makenna Jackson added four along with 12 digs. Halle Hetzler racked up a match-high 31 digs.
 
It is the Lutes' 12 league crown— all coming under the direction of Head Coach Kevin Aoki. The Lutes have previous won titles in 2018, 2017, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, and in 1999. With two matches left in the regular season, PLU has a chance to finish the conference slate undefeated for the third time in program history and for the first time since 2009. 
 
"Thanks to all the supporters of Lute volleyball and to our seniors. Attaway!"
 
With the win, PLU has now won 42 of the 51 sets played during conference play, including winning seven of its 14 league matches in straight sets. Tonight's barnburner was just the second five set match of the conference slate for the Lutes. 

Hear from @PLUVolleyball's six seniors after clinching the NWC regular season title on Senior Day! #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/gdOIXLxYd6

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) October 29, 2023

 
Saturday was senior day with the program celebrating its six seniors in a pre-match ceremony. The 2023 seniors have a 54-29 overall record over the past four seasons, including a 45-13 mark in NWC play and an incredible 26-4 record inside Olson Gymnasium. 
 
The Lutes return to the court on Friday with a showdown with George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon.