TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball squad saw its seven match win streak come to a halt on Saturday evening, getting edged 3-1 (15-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23) by Northwest Conference Champion Whitworth University in the home finale inside Olson Gymnasium.
 
The homestanding Lutes (14-9, 12-4 NWC) came out of the gate swinging, using a 7-1 run to seize a 14-8. That included a pair of aces from Je T'aime Paio and another from Macy Matsushima. PLU kept its foot on the gas with an Alexis Eggert kill delivering a 25-15 set win.
 
The Pirates scored the first five points of the second set but the Lutes wouldn't make it easy, closing the gap to 14-11 on a Julissa Pernsteiner kill. An Eggert kill whittled the gap to just two at 22-20 while three straight points brought PLU within one at 24-23. Whitworth escaped unscathed, taking the set 25-23 to level the match.
 
Pacific Lutheran scored the first three points of the third set. An Eggert kill put the Lutes up 14-10 but Whitworth tallied the next four, tying the set at 14. The set remained a nip and tuck affair until the Pirates finished on a 4-1 run to take the set 25-21. 
 
PLU led 17-14 in the fourth set on an Ayre Takamoto ace but Whitworth scored the next four points to retake the lead. The teams battled back and forth and it was tied at 23 before a pair of kills gave Whitworth the 25-23 set win to secure the match, win the conference title, and snap the Lutes' 12 match home winning streak.
 
Eggert led the Lutes with 15 kills on 33 attacks while Shaela Allen0Greggs had 14 kills. Julissa Pernsteiner chipped in 11 while Paio had seven and 13 digs. Takamoto had a match-high 38 assists while Macy Matsushima led the Lute defense with 20 digs while Bailey Johnson added 15.
 
Saturday was senior night with the Lutes honoring Bailey Johnson, Jordan Freer, and Haley Goto after the match. The trio own a 51-13 record in NWC action over the last four seasons, including an incredible 32-4 record inside Olson Gymnasium. 

"It was a very competitive match that could have gone either way tonight," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.

"Congratulations to our seniors Jordan, Haley, and Bailey. They've been a huge part of our program and our success over the past four years. We look forward to extending our season next weekend at the NWC Tournament."
 
The Lutes are back on the court next Friday, competing at the 2025 NWC Tournament.