MCMINNVILLE, Ore. — It wasn't easy but the Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team extended its win streak to six on Saturday night, outlasting Northwest Conference rival Linfield University 3-2 (21-25, 25-18. 25-18, 23-25, 15-11) inside Tad Wilson Gymnasium. 
 
The host Wildcats (7-12, 5-9 NWC) won the opening set, scoring four straight points after the score was tied at 18. PLU closed the gap to just two points on an Ayre Takamoto ace but consecutive kills from Linfield gave the hosts the 25-21 set win.

PLU (13-8, 11-3 NWC) led wire-to-wire in the second set, scoring the first four points and racing out to a 7-2 lead. Shaela Allen-Greggs leveled the match with a set clinching kill in a 25-18 win.

The third set was tied at 13 before a block by Alexis Eggert and Takamoto touched off a four-point run for the Lutes. PLU led the rest of the way with another Allen-Greggs kill delivering yet another 25-18 win.

Linfield pushed the match to a fifth set after squeaking out a 25-23 victory in the fourth. The Cats scored seven of the first nine points in the fifth set but the Lutes battled back, tying the set at nine on a Je T'aime Paio kill, part of a 5-0 Lute run to propel the Lutes to the 15-11 set win to secure the match. 

Allen-Greggs powered the Lute offense with 18 kills with Julissa Pernsteiner adding 10 kills with a .429 attack percentage. Paio and Haley Goto both had seven kills. Takamoto had 37 assists, 16 digs, and four blocks while Macy Matsushima had a team-best 18 digs. PLU had eight aces on the night coming from five different players.
 

"It was a great match and full of ups and downs. Our team showed so much grit down 7-2 in the 5th set," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.
"We're looking forward to hosting the Whits and also honoring our 3 seniors: Haley Goto, Jordan Freer and Bailey Johnson. We're also trying to break our all time attendance record on Friday which stands at 480."

The Lutes, who have clinched a spot in the four team NWC Tournament, begin their final homestand on the regular season on Friday, welcoming instate rival Whitman College to Olson Gymnasium. First serve is set for 7 p.m.