Pacific Lutheran University Athletics

TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team was unable to extend its win streak to double digits on Friday night, suffering its first blemish of the Northwest Conference slate in a 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-23) setback to defending regular season champion Whitworth University inside Olson Gymnasium.

PLU (13-3, 6-1 NWC) now sits in a three-way tie for first place in the NWC standings with Whitworth (12-2, 6-1 NWC) and crosstown rival University of Puget Sound who the Lutes beat 3-1 back on Sept. 22. 

"Whitworth played a great match and kept us on our heals all night," said Head Coach Kevin Aoki.

"We had a hard time matching their serve and pass game tonight but we have a resilient group that we're confident will bounce back tomorrow." 

The visiting Pirates were ready to play off the bus, scoring 12 of the opening 15 points and opened a 16-5 lead. A Julissa Pernsteiner kill touched off a 7-0 Lute run to narrow the gap to 16-12 but Whitworth responded with nine of the next 12 to secure a 25-15 set win. 

A block from Clare Freberg and Alexis Eggert put homestanding PLU up 3-2 early in the second set but the Pirates answered, scoring 10 of the next 13. A Shaela Allen-Greggs kill got the Lutes to within two at 14-12 before a Whitworth attack error made it just a one point gap at 18-17.

Unfortunately for the Lutes, Whitworth scored seven of the next nine, walking away with a 25-19 win in set two. 

The Pirates scored eight of the first 10 in the third set but the Lutes refused to go quietly, using a 6-0 run to stake a 14-11 lead on an Ayre Takamoto kill. It was a nip and tuck affair the rest of the set with a kill and a block pushing Whitworth across the finish line with a 25-23 set win to earn the sweep. 

Eggert paced the Lutes with 10 kills and five blocks, including one solo stuff while Allen-Greggs and Je T'aime Paio both had eight kills. Takamoto finished with 24 of PLU's 28 assists while Savanna Colliado was the unsung hero on defense with 15 digs to pace the team. 

Friday saw PLU's nine-match win streak come to a close, a streak that started back on Sept. 11. 
 
The Lutes finish off the homestand tomorrow evening, hosting in-state rival Whitman College at 6:30 p.m.