TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team extended its home winning streak to 17 matches on Friday evening inside Olson Gymnasium, closing out its non-conference slate with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-22) sweep of Columbia Bible College (Canada).
 
"It was so fun to be back in Olson and how cool is that all 17 players got to play and make an impact in some way," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki, who sits four wins shy of 500 for his career.
 
"We have had a tough non-conference playing multiple sets in a weekend so it was good to get the sweep. We're looking forward to the alumni match tomorrow afternoon as I hear they've been practicing."
 
The opening set was a tight affair with nine ties and four lead changes. Tied at 17, a trio of Bearcat errors gave the Lutes a three point cushion. CBC (0-1) whittled the gap to a single point but the homestanding Lutes (5-4) tallied five of the final six points, including kills from Shaela Allen-Greggs and Claire Hindman to take set one 25-20.
 
The second set was tight early before the Lutes scored five straight, getting a pair of kills from Hindman along with a Macy Matsushima ace.  PLU played with the lead the rest of the set, capitalized on a CBC attack error to cement a 25-22 victory.
 
PLU switched up its lineup in the third set and despite some hiccups in the early moments, the final result was still the same. The Bearcats staked an early 7-4 advantage but four straight points, including a block by Julissa Pernsteiner and Noe Feliciano tied the set at 12. Columbia Bible wasn't done competing, building a 20-16 edge later in the set. PLU would score nine of the final 11 points with a Feliciano kill sealing a 25-22 set win to earn the three-set sweep.
 
11 Lutes registered a kill with Pernsteiner leading the way with six on just 11 attacks. Pernsteiner was a force at the net, collecting seven blocks on the night. Claire Hindman had five kills with a .400 attack percentage. The offense went through the hands of Ayre Takamoto and Jordan Freer who finished with 16 and seven assists, respectively. Makenna Jackson led the defense with nine digs. 

It didn't look like the 1st home match for Julissa Pernsteiner! Hear from the first-year after a dominating win inside Olson Gym for @PLUVolleyball #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/EEjBZRZPx4

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) September 14, 2024

 
The Lutes are back on the court next Friday, beginning its Northwest Conference title defense at home against Linfield University. First serve is set for 7 p.m. 

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