TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran Volleyball team wrapped up play at the Puget Sound Premiere on Saturday, dropping matches to Adrian College and host University of Puget Sound. The Lutes fell 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-20) to Adrian to open the day before stumbling 3-2 (25-8, 17-25, 22-25, 27-25, 15-5) to Puget Sound.

"Wow! Even though we didn't win a match we had so much growth this weekend," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.
 
The Lutes came out swinging in the first set of the morning match taking an early lead against Adrian (1-2). The two teams traded scores in a set that featured three lead changes and ten ties. The Bulldogs took control late for a 25-22 set one victory. Adrian opened up a nine point lead in the second before the Lutes (4-0) fought back, reducing the gap before ultimately running out of gas 25-21.

PLU led early in the third before the Bulldogs took control, scoring six straight points midway through the set to win 25-20 to take the match in straight sets.

Baylee Johnson was dialed in with 14 kills on 34 attacks with Elle Thomas providing eight kills. Olivia Evaro had 25 of PLU's 32 assists while Halle Hetzler led the defensive efforts with 18 digs.

The nightcap was a marathon five-setter that saw the host Loggers (4-0) sneak away with the win. Puget Sound was firing on all cylinders in the opening set, cruising to a 25-8 victory. The Lutes rebounded in the second set, leading wire-to-wire after jumping to an early 11-3 advantage. A block from Alexis Eggert and Thomas cemented a 25-17 set victory.

PLU trailed 17-13 in the third but scored eight of the next 10. Puget Sound tied the set at 21 but PLU scored four of the final five points, with a Haley Goto kill giving PLU the 25-22 win.

The intracity rivals traded jabs in the fourth set. PLU led by as many as five but needed three straight points, including a Halle Hetzler ace to stave off set point. The two teams traded jabs late before UPS pulled out the 27-25 win to force a fifth set.

Puget Sound scored six straight points in the fifth to take control, netting a 15-5 win to earn the match victory.

Thomas led the Lutes with 15 kills with Johnson and Claire Hindman adding 15 and 13 respectively. Tori Takeuchi had four aces, Evaro had 47 assists and dozen digs while Hetzler contributed a team-best 18 digs.

UPS's strength in the middle was on display in the evening match with the Loggers collecting 18 blocks to PLU's five.

"We got blitzed by UPS in the first set 25-8 and to go five sets with the tournament champion is something we can build on. We look forward to going to California next weekend to compete with the SCIAC schools."
 
The Lutes head to Whittier, Calif. to play back-to-back matches against Whittier College and Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Friday evening.