HOLLAND, Mich. — Survive and Advance. That's the goal for the Northwest Conference Champion Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team as they headed to the 2023 NCAA Division III Tournament at Hope College's DeVos Fieldhouse. On Thursday, the Lutes did more than just survive, thriving in all facets of the game in a 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-18) sweep of Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) to advance to the second round.
 
Pacific Lutheran (20-7) extended its win streak to a school record tying 19 with the sweep, and sets up a second round showdown tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) against Transylvania University (Ky.). 

A SWEEP for @PLUVolleyball in Michigan! The Lutes are still dancing into the Second Round! ??#GoLutes pic.twitter.com/QWlFzs9WZI

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) November 16, 2023

 
"It's just awesome. Coming back as a fifth-year senior and experiencing COVID, just getting this opportunity is a dream. It's our last shot and our last go. We're stoked to be here and we're soaking it all up, having the best time we can have and laying it all out there," said three-time NWC Libero of the Year Halle Hetzler. 
 
"It's amazing. I mean Halle and I have talked about this since we came into the program. To work five years to get here has just been incredible. Now that we're here we're just soaking it in and ready to step on the court tomorrow and play another day. One day at a time and one win at a time," said Baylee Johnson. 
 
The Tartans (23-9) opened the match with four of the first five points but the Lutes buckled down getting a pair of aces from Makenna Jackson and tying the set at five on a CMU ball handling error. Carnegie Mellon pushed ahead 10-7 but the Lutes scored seven of the next eight, including a trio of kills from Claire Hindman to take a 14-11 advantage. It's a lead PLU would maintain the rest of the set with a pair of Johnson kills giving the Lutes the 25-20 victory. 
 
Pacific Lutheran led wire to wire in the second set, opening up with kills from Hindman, Johnson, and another from Hindman. That lead mushroomed to 8-2 while an Alexis Eggert kill capped off a 25-21 victory.

That's a 2-0 lead for the Lutes?? #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/V38KW82UEe

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) November 16, 2023

 
Carnegie Mellon led 16-14 in the third before the Lutes scored six straight, including a pair of aces from Torie Takeuchi. The Lutes never looked back with a Johnson kill wrapping up the set 25-18 and giving PLU the three-set sweep. 
 
"First of all congratulations to Carnegie Mellon. Making it to this stage is an achievement itself," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki. 
 
"We've been unranked and battling all throughout the year and these two women (Halle and Baylee) are senior leaders and we played a very solid match today. Served and passed really well. Hopefully we can continue to do that as the tournament moves on."
 
"We've been here before (as a program) but this group of seniors haven't had a chance to win the conference championship and haven't had a chance to come to this beautiful place and be in an NCAA Tournament. So for them, it's huge."
 
Johnson powered the Lute offense with 16 kills while Hindman added a dozen. Olivia Evaro set the two up, finishing with a match-high 41 assists. Hetzler anchored the defense with 21 digs while Eggert had four blocks. 
 
The Lutes finished with 10 aces on the day, including five off the serve of Takeuchi. 
 
Thursday's match was the Lutes' 13th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since the 2018 campaign. PLU advances to the second round for just the fourth time in program history and the first time since the 2017 season. 
 
The Lutes will face Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Champion Transylvania after the Pioneers downed University of Mount Union 3-1 earlier in the day. First serve is set for 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).