PORTLAND, Ore. — The Northwest Conference Champion Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team finished league play undefeated for the first time since 2009 on Saturday night, steamrolling Lewis & Clark College 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-16) inside the Pamplin Sports Center.
 
PLU (1707, 16-0 NWC) wrapped up conference play by winning 48 of the 60 sets it played, becoming just the third Lute team to go 16-0 and just the sixth squad to do so since the NWC began a 16-match slate during the 1996 season. 

"What an accomplishment for our team. We have come such a long way since our 1-7 start to the season," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.

"Going undefeated is really tough to do because of the quality of teams in our conference. We're not done yet and looking forward to the postseason and hosting the inaugural NWC Tournament. So proud of our team. Attaway!"
 
The Lutes spotted the home side the match's opening two points before rattling off six straight and 10 of the next 12. The Pioneers (7-17, 2-14 NWC) narrowed the gap to 19-16 but the Lutes scored the next six, including a set clinching kill from Claire Hindman for the 25-16 win.
 
Lewis & Clark led 13-11 in the second set but the Lutes scored nine of the next 10, including a trio of aces off the serve of Makenna Jackson. PLU would play with the lead the rest of the set with a Hailey Iha kill delivering the 25-18 set victory. 
 
Halle Hetzler had four aces early in the third as PLU raced out to an early 8-2 lead. That advantage mushroomed to 16-5 on an Elle Thomas kill en route to a 25-16 victory for the Lutes' eighth sweep of the conference season.
 
PLU finished the night with 15 aces, including seven off the serve of Hetzler who also paced the squad with 14 digs. Alexis Eggert had nine kills on just 12 attacks along with three blocks while Baylee Johnson had eight kills. Olivia Evaro set up the offense with 32 of the team's 35 assists on the night. 
 
The Lutes head to the inaugural NWC Tournament as the No. 1 seed and host and will face Willamette University on Friday at 4:30 p.m. inside Olson Gymnasium. Following that match Whitworth University will play George Fox University at 7:30 p.m.