SPOKANE, Wash.—Alexis Eggert led the Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team offensively in kills with nine, but Whitworth University's defense proved too much as they prevailed to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-14) victory Friday Night.
A rematch of the Northwest Conference Championship from a year ago, featured two perennial powers. Coming in to the match up today Whitworth sat in first place in the NWC standings at 6-0 and PLU in third place with a 5-1 record.
The Pirates (13-3, 6-0 NWC) took the opening set stopping a late rally by the Lutes. Whitworth was up 19-11 and Pacific Lutheran went on a 4-0 run off the services of
Bailey Johnson and attack of Eggert. A couple of attack errors late sealed the set for the Pirates.
In the second set, the Pirates would jump to a 14-8 lead, but
Julissa Pernsteiner started to get hot logging three kills to cut the score to 17-14. Whitworth would then capitalize on attacking errors by the Lutes to secure the set and go up 2-0.
Lutes would go up early in third set 7-5 as
Ayre Takamoto distributed some great passes leading to kills from Eggert. The Pirates turned things around gaining momentum punishing Pacific Lutheran with several aces and change of pace attacks from Lauren Kremer.
"We faced a very tough Whitworth team that played at a really high level," Head Coach
Kevin Aoki stated. "Looking forward to a bounce back match against a much improved Whitman squad."
Takamoto finished with 26 assists and 11 digs on only one error totaling her seventh double-double of the season.
Pacific Lutheran University will be back on the court tomorrow at 6 PM as they travel to play the Whitman College Blues.
