KIRKLAND, Wash. — All 18 Lutes saw the floor on Tuesday's season opener as the Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team rolled up host Northwest University 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 28-30, 25-17) inside the Kristi Brodin Pavilion.
"It was a great start and everyone got some playing time tonight," said Head Coach
Kevin Aoki.
"It's always fun to put the Lute uniform on again. It was a great start and we're looking forward to this weekend at the Puget Sound Premiere against some tough D3 opponents."
The host Eagles (4-5) tallied the opening two points of set one before the Lutes ripped off six straight. PLU (1-0) led the rest of the set, building a nine-point gap thanks to a
Je T'aime Paio ace and an
Audrey Hansma kill before a Paio kill closed the set 25-17 in favor of the Lutes.
Northwest owned a 7-4 lead early in the set second before the Lutes seized the lead after pouring on six straight points, including a pair of aces from
Madi Mulipola. The Eagles briefly reclaimed the lead before a Mulipola ace pushed the Lutes back ahead at 20-19. PLU did just enough down the stretch with a
Savanna Colliado ace handing the Lutes the 25-21 set win.
Neither team was able to earn separation in the third with the hosts clawing out a marathon 30-28 set win to extend the match.
Pacific Lutheran never trailed in the fourth set with a Paio kill delivering a 25-17 set win to secure the match.
Paio led the Lutes with eight kills while
Julissa Pernsteiner added six with a .417 hitting percentage.
Ayre Takamoto provided 16 assists with
Krysta Sugai netting seven in her debut in the black and gold.
Macy Matsushima highlighted the defensive efforts with 13 digs. PLU served up 15 aces with Mulipola, Colliado, and Paio each serving up three.
The Lutes are back on the court on Friday, heading across town for day one of the Puget Sound Premiere. PLU opens the day at 11:15 a.m. with a match against Franklin & Marshall College before battling defending national champion University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 5:15 p.m. to close the day.
