TACOMA, Wash. — Julissa Pernsteiner had a match-high 14 kills, powering the Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-20) sweep of Northwest Conference rival Whitman College on Saturday evening inside Olson Gymnasium. 

The Lutes (12-5, 7-1 NWC) stormed out of the gate, scoring the opening four points and taking a 7-2 advantage on a Blues' attack error. Visiting Whitman (3-12, 2-6 NWC) battled back, including three straight points to take an 11-9 lead. The Blues led 20-17 later in the second before four straight points tipped the scales back in favor of the Lutes. Pernsteiner played a big role in that run, getting a kill and an ace. The set was tied at 22 before the Lutes closed it out with three of the final four points with an attack error giving PLU the 25-23 set win.

Pacific Lutheran got the second set off to a sluggish start with the Blues' scoring five of the first six. Whitman led 6-2 before the hosts ripped off seven consecutive points, a stretch that included four Pernsteiner kills. PLU's lead mushroomed to 18-13 but the Blues scored seven of the next eight to reclaim the lead. Four straight points restored the Lute advantage on their way to another 25-23 set win.

Whitman again jumped to an early lead, owning a 6-1 edge early in the third set. PLU slowly chipped away, tying the set at eight on an Alexis Eggert kill. The Blues wouldn't back down, getting consecutive blocks to build a 17-11 lead. The Lutes emerged with the 25-20 victory after scoring 11 of the final 12 points including a match sealing kill from Pernsteiner. 

"It was a little rough at times but sometimes you have to battle through that," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.

"We did that tonight. Looking forward to the second round of NWC play starting next weekend in Oregon."

Pernsteiner was all business on Saturday night, finishing with 14 kills on just 24 attacks with a .500 attack percentage. The first-year also had four blocks. Eggert was second on the team in kills with eight. Ayre Takamoto had 29 assists while Macy Matsushima had 11 digs. 

The Lutes are back on the road next weekend, returning to Oregon to face Willamette University on Friday night and Linfield University on Saturday night.