TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team picked up its fourth straight victory and 11th consecutive home win on Friday night, breezing past Northwest Conference rival Willamette University 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-18) inside Olson Gymnasium. 

The Bearcats (9-10, 7-5 NWC) entered the night on a six-match winning streak and tallied the first point of the match. It would be their lone lead of the opening set as the homestanding Lutes (11-8, 9-3 NWC) scored seven of the first 10 points. Willamette would keep the set close but ultimately the Lutes had more firepower with a Bearcat attack error sealing the opening set 25-23 in favor of PLU.

PLU never trailed in the second set with a Macy Matsushima ace delivering a 25-20 set win. The Lutes scored four of the first five points in the third set but it wouldn't be that easy with Willamette scoring five consecutive points to seize a 10-9 lead. The Lutes answered with the next four points and six of the next seven, getting a pair of kills from both Julissa Pernsteiner and Je T'aime Paio. Back-to-back aces from Bailey Johnson pushed the Lute advantage to 24-16 while a Shaela Allen-Greggs kill gave PLU the 25-18 set win and the three-set sweep.

Paio and Allen-Greggs led the Lutes in kills with nine while Paio also had 10 digs. Pernsteiner had seven kills and five blocks while Ayre Takamoto had 28 assists and 10 digs. Macy Matsushima was the third Lute with double digit digs, leading the way with 18.

"It was a great way to cap the week with this win over a hot Willamette team. We got to continue our solid play in Oregon next weekend," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.

The Lutes have the rest of the weekend off, returning to the court next Friday in Forest Grove for a Halloween showdown against Pacific University.