PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Pacific Lutheran Volleyball team (9-4, 4-0 NWC) travelled south for their first Northwest Conference road matchup of the season, defeating the Lewis & Clark Pioneers in three sets; giving Head Coach Kevin Aoki his 500^th win as Head Coach of the PLU Volleyball team. The sweep is the Lutes fifth-straight win in three-sets of the season, and they have now swept all four NWC opponents faced to begin their run at consecutive conference titles. Aoki's 500^th win comes amidst a stretch of 20-consecutive Northwest Conference victories.

Luteville Legend. ??

With tonight's sweep over Lewis & Clark, PLU Volleyball Head Coach Kevin Aoki has earned his 5??0??0??th win! All of Aoki's wins have come at the helm of the Lutes Volleyball program. #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/Amr1yCCN1c

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) September 29, 2024

 
After the two squads traded points to open the first set, the Lutes popped off a 6-1 run highlighted by kills from freshman Julissa Pernsteiner and an ace from Isabel Melean-Williams. The Pioneers climbed back to within one, making it 10-9 Lutes. But a 13-4 run from the black and gold essentially put the first set out of reach, as the Lutes took set one, 25-14. Sophomore Shaela Allen-Greggs put an exclamation on the end of the set, earning kills for the final two points. The Lutes have won the first set in 11 of 13 matches this season.
 
The Pioneers rebounded in the second set, bouncing out to an 11-5 lead. The Lutes went on a 5-0 run during Ayre Takamoto's serves paired with kills from Alexis Eggert. Macy Matsushima tied the game up at 14-14 with an ace. PLU pulled away with a 21-18 lead, until the Pios fought back to make it a 24-23 game in favor of the Lutes. Coach Aoki took a timeout so that Claire Hindman could get the final kill to put set two away.
 
With coach Aoki 499 wins and 1,499 sets won, he needed just one more in this game to reach his next milestone. Following a 4-4 tie in set three, the Lutes began to pull away to a point where they could not look back. Lewis & Clark gained a bit of momentum to make it a 17-14 game in favor of PLU, but Julissa Pernsteiner helped the Lutes separate themselves yet again.
 
Allen-Greggs' kill gave the Lutes a 25-20 set three win, and the final point for Aoki's pursuit to 500. Pernsteiner and Allen-Greggs led the Lutes offensively, each earning 11 kills in the game. Takamoto did the setting for the Lutes, with 37 assists. Libero Makenna Jackson trailed only Sydney Aoki in digs (9). Lastly, Claire Hindman got it done from beyond the back line, totaling three aces.
 
"500 wins are special, but it really comes down to the 192 players that I have coached during my 29 years and also my 8 assistant coaches, especially Tim Templin that coached with me from the start and for 20 years." Said Head Coach Kevin Aoki following the Lutes sweep of the Pioneers that earned him his 500^th victory.
 
"I am just glad that Dr. David Olson took a chance on an alumnus with no prior college coaching experience to lead the program. I have also had other great athletic directors including Paul Hoseth, Laurie Turner and Mike Snyder. So much of what we do in our program I learned from Frosty, the Hall of Fame PLU football coach."
 
"Lastly, I'd like to give special recognition to my wife Bethany and my two boys Aiden and Brennan. While I was away coaching and or recruiting she made sure things at home were running smoothly. My boys have grown up in Olson Gym."
 

??Hear from Current Lutes, Alumni, and Coaches who have crossed paths with Coach Aoki on his way to his 500th win! #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/zFfz9d8Ff3

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) September 29, 2024

 
The Lutes will travel back to Oregon next weekend to face Pacific and George Fox on Friday and Saturday. Friday's matchup is set for 7 p.m. and Saturday in Newberg is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
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