WHITTIER, CALIF. --- The Pacific Lutheran Volleyball team travelled to California for a doubleheader against Chapman University and the Poets of Whittier College on Friday. The Lutes earned their first victory of the season in game
 
AGAINST CHAPMAN
 
The Lutes got off to a quick start against the Chapman Panthers on Friday evening as they won the first set 25-19. Although, the Panthers held an early lead against the Lutes in the first, leading 9-3 before the Lutes went on a 4-0 run. The Lutes eventually tied the set 11-11 and traded points up until the score was 19-19. From there the Lutes would go on a 6-0 run to take the first set 25-19.
 
The second set was back and forth until PLU took off to lead 13-8. Maintaining a small lead for the next few serves, the Lutes erupted from a 16-13 lead to forcing the Panthers at set point following an 8-0 run. PLU would go on to take set two 25-14.
 
The Lute dominance didn't stop there though, as senior Hailey Iha, playing in her first game of the season took the Lutes on a 5-0 run to start the third. The Lutes and Panthers would trade points for six serves until the Lutes would pull away on a 5-0 run once again.
 
Junior Claire Hindman proved to be too much for the Panthers as her continuous kills throughout each set lead the Lutes to a sweep. Sophomores Elle Thomas and Hailey Goto combined for five blocks in the game. Senior Libero and reigning NWC Defensive Player of the Week Halle Hetzler earned 12 digs in the contest. This marks the first win for the Lutes in the young season.
 
AGAINST WHITTIER
 
The Lutes and the Poets began the first set trading scores until the Poets broke off on a 6-0 run from 9-7 to 15-7. This proved to be the dagger for the Lutes as they were unable to get near the Poets in the set. The Lutes were unable to stop the serve streaks of Heard and Lin of Whittier. The Poets took set one by a score of 25-11.
 
The second set began in similar fashion, yet the Lutes prevented a lengthy run from the Poets. After trailing by three points early in the set, junior Makenna Jackson earned two aces during a four-point run by the Lutes, giving them a 14-13 lead. The majority of the set was back and forth, up until a 22-22 tie. From this point, the Poets consecutively won the final three points of the set to earn a 25-22 win.
 
The Lutes began their climb back in the third set by getting off to a 7-3 lead while Jackson was serving. But the Poets continued their hot streak and won five points in a row to take a 8-7 set lead early. Then the Lutes were able to fight back from a 15-11 deficit to tie the set at 15-15 behind the serves of libero Hetzler. Senior Torie Takeuchi took control of the service after the Lutes made the score 19-18 in favor of the Poets. Takeuchi went on to lead the Lutes to eight consecutive points, giving the Lutes set three by a score of 25-19. During this run, Takeuchi earned three service aces.
 
The momentum of the third set leaked into the fourth as the Lutes took an early 4-1 lead. Once again, the Poets fought their way back into the set, taking a 17-14 lead before head coach Kevin Aoki took his first timeout of the set. The timeout proved to help the Poets stretch their lead to 21-14. As the Lutes tried to fight back, the Poets continued to pull away and take the match in set four by a score of 25-17.
 
Senior Baylee Johnson lead the Lutes in kills in game two with 13 and also had one assist and one kill. Closely behind was sophomore Elle Thomas with 12 kills, seven digs, and two assists. Leading in assists was sophomore Olivia Evaro with 27. Senior Halle Hetzler lead again in game two with 15 digs.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH AOKI

"It was a day of improvement from last week and it was tough to play such a good team in Whittier back to back. It was nice to get our first win of the season. Looking forward to playing two of the better SCIAC teams tomorrow in Pomona-Pitzer and La Verne."
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
 
The Lutes will look to continue play on Saturday as they are set to face Pomona-Pitzer Colleges at 1:30 p.m. and La Verne at 6:30 p.m. in La Verne, California.
 
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