TACOMA, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran Volleyball team (14-6, 10-2 NWC got back to their winning ways on Friday night inside Olson Gymnasium, taking down Lewis & Clark (0-17, 0-10 NWC) in four sets.
 
The Lutes got the night started on the right foot, getting off to a quick 5-0 lead in set one, all on Pioneer attack errors. Attacks from Ayre Takamoto, Kailee Efros-Bohn, and Shaela Allen-Greggs continued to push the lead out to 14-4. An ensuing 6-0 run for the Lutes sealed the Pios fate in the opening set, 25-8.
 
Set two was very much an opposite start to the set, as the Pios defense pulled them out to a 5-1 lead. Freshman Julissa Pernsteiner carried the Lutes back into an 8-8 tie. Unforced errors by the Lutes resulted in a 6-1 run for the Pioneers, taking a 14-9 lead in the set. Kills from Alexis Eggert and aces from Pernsteiner and Macy Matsushima brought the Lutes back from a 24-22 deficit to tie the set at 25-25. A pair of attack errors by the Lutes nullified the comeback overall, leveling the match at one set a-piece.
 
The third set opened with three and four-point runs in favor of the black and gold, before the Pios cut the deficit to just one at 9-8. Pernsteiner and Noe Feliciano backed a pair of 5-0 runs for the Lutes late in the set, pushing PLU ahead 23-14. The duo combined for the two final points of the set on kills off of sets from Takamoto. The Lutes got back on track with a dominant set three victory.
 
PLU carried the set three momentum into the fourth, yet again opening with a 5-0 run that extended further into a 10-2 Lutes lead. Although, a string of attack errors from the Lutes opened the door for Lewis & Clark, allowing the Pios 8-0 run to knot the score at 10-10. From there, a 12-4 run led by Feliciano and featuring kills from Claire Hindman, Allen-Greggs, and Eggert gave the Lutes a sizable 22-14 lead. A wave of substitutions came through for Head Coach Kevin Aoki, as Hailey Goto tallied two of the three final points in the match. Allen-Greggs served the final dagger for PLU, cruising to a 25-17 win.
 
The 3-1 victory moves PLU to a 10-2 record in Northwest Conference play, and an impressive 6-1 record inside Olson Gym in 2024; the Lutes home record moves to 54-9 since the start of the 2017 season.
 
 "We had to battle tonight against Lewis & Clark. A lot of credit to them for how hard they played." Said Head Coach Kevin Aoki following the victory.
 
"I liked how everyone contributed tonight and we are looking forward to hosting George Fox and Pacific in our final home conference matches of the year!"
 
Pernsteiner led the way with 10 kills in the game, while adding two aces behind the service line. The Lutes led in all team statistical categories, including doubling the Pios 25 kill-total. Ayre Takamoto dominated in her setting role, tacking 37 assists, while freshman Macy Matsushima dug out 11 digs.

LSN's Jonathan Cohen caught up with Noe Feliciano following tonight's 3-1 win over Lewis & Clark! ??#GoLutes pic.twitter.com/LUPdUfeQOw

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) October 26, 2024

 
The Lutes continue the homestand next Friday and Saturday, November 1^st and 2^nd, as they host George Fox and Pacific inside Olson Gym for their final pair of home games of the season.
 
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