WALLA WALLA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team closed out the season-opening Whitman Tournament on Saturday by splitting a pair of matches. The Lutes rolled the University of Redlands 3-1 (25-23, 26-28, 25-20, 25-17) to begin the day before ending up on the opposite side of the same scoreline in the nightcap against host Whitman College (25-22, 19-25, 26-24, 25-21). 

"It was a good match this morning but we had a rough go of it against Whitman this afternoon," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.

"It was a long weekend playing 17 sets so early in the season. We're looking forward to our trip to Texas next weekend."
 
Against Redlands (1-2), the Bulldogs came out of the gate swinging, scoring the opening four points of the match. The Lutes (2-2) battled back, tying the set at six on an attack error and taking their first lead of the day at 9-8 on another attack error. Redlands held a 21-19 advantage later in the set but the Lutes scored six of the final eight points of the set to sneak out the 25-23 victory.
 
It was another tight one in the second set. PLU enjoyed a 17-13 edge but Redlands answered, tying the set at 18. It would be a razor thin margin the rest of the way before the Bulldogs got two late kills to prevail 28-26.  
 
A 6-1 run turned a tenuous 15-14 Lute lead into a 21-15 gap in the third set before a Claire Hindman kill gave the Lutes the 25-20 victory.
 
PLU never trailed in the fourth set, rattling off six straight points to stake a 13-7 advantage. The Lutes kept their foot on the gas, scoring the final five points to secure a 25-17 set win to win the match in four sets.
 
Callie Simmonds led the Lutes with 11 kills with Hindman adding 10. Ayre Takamoto had 40 assists and four aces while defensively Makenna Jackson collected 16 digs.
 
The host Blues (1-2) stormed out of the gate in the opening set, scoring the opening seven points of the match and 12 of the first 14. The Lutes scored nine straight, pulling within two on a Callie Simmonds kill but Whitman did just enough to escape with the 25-22 set one victory.

A 10-2 run turned a 10-8 Whitman edge into a 18-12 Lute lead, an advantage PLU would maintain the rest of the set. A Simmonds kill cemented the set 25-19 in favor of the Lutes, leveling the match at 1-1.

The third set saw the Lutes surge ahead 11-6 after scoring six straight points, including four aces off the serve of Takamoto. Whitman battled back, reclaiming the lead at 15-14. It was back and forth the rest of the set. The Blues had set point at 24-21, only to see the Lutes rip off three straight points to tie it at 24. Unfortunately, the Blues capitalized on a Lute service error and a block to net the 26-24 win.

Whitman tallied the opening five points of the fourth set, leading wire-to-wire for the 25-21 victory.  

Julissa Pernsteiner paced the Lutes with 12 kills and three blocks with Alexis Eggert providing nine kills. Takamoto finished with 34 assists, 14 digs, and six aces while Jackson tallied 25 digs and Macy Matsushima added 16. 

PLU was dialed in at the service line, finishing the match with 12 aces. 
 
The Lutes are back on the court next Friday in Texas at the Southwestern Invitational. 

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