NEWBERG, Ore. — It wasn't easy but the Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team kept its winning streak alive on Saturday evening inside the Wheeler Sports Center. The Lutes outlasted host George Fox University 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 25-12, 26-28, 15-13) on Saturday night, extending its win streak to seven and its Northwest Conference unbeaten run to 22 matches. 
 
The match was hanging in the balance with the score tied 13-13 in the decisive fifth set. A Bruin attack error pushed the advantage to the Lutes and the serve of Bailey Johnson. Kailee Efros-Bohn put the match away with a set clinching kill, allowing the Lutes (11-4, 6-0 NWC) to remain undefeated in league play and escape Oregon with the nailbiting win.

"Just a great college NWC volleyball match tonight. So many ups and downs but we managed to a win against a very seasoned George Gox team that has seven seniors of which five of them are fifth year seniors," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.

George Fox (7-8, 4-3 NWC) scored the matches opening five points. Pacific Lutheran stormed back, taking a 14-11 lead on an Alexis Eggert kill. The host Bruins tallied five of the first sets final seven points, etching out the 25-21 set win.

Neither team was able to earn separation in the second set. A block late in the set put GFU up 23-22 but the Lutes tallied the next three points with a Bruin service error tying the set before a kill from Ayre Takamoto and a set clinching ace from Macy Matsushima for the 25-23 victory.

PLU tallied seven of the first eight points of the third set, including three aces from Makenna Jackson, and never looked back in a 25-12 set win. PLU led 23-17 in the fourth set but the Bruins clawed back into the set, eventually pulling out the 28-26 win to force the decisive fifth set.

The fifth set featured eight ties and three lead changes before the Lutes ultimately took control and cemented the win. 
 
Shaela Allen-Greggs paced the Lutes with 15 kills with Efros-Bohn adding 10. Claire Hindman and Julissa Pernsteiner each had nine kills. Takamoto had 42 assists and eight digs while Jackson had a team-high 20 digs and five aces while Matsushima tallied 13 digs and four aces. PLU was aggressive on the serve, racking up 17 aces on the night from six different servers.
 
The Lutes are back on the court on Friday night, hosting in-state rival Whitworth University. First serve inside Olson Gymnasium is set for 7 p.m. 

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