Official NWC Release

HILLSBORO, Ore. — Pacific Lutheran University volleyball team monopolized the first Player of the Week Awards of the season on Tuesday with Macy Matsushima landing Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week while Julissa Pernsteiner was named NWC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
A junior from Honolulu, Hawaii, Matsushima wins NWC Defensive Player of the Week after leading the team in both digs and aces. Matsushima had 101 digs over the five matches last week, helping the Lutes (4-1) win four of the five. The libero had 27 digs in a three-set sweep of NCAA Tournament qualifier Franklin & Marshall College while matching that tally in a five-set setback to No. 1 and defending national champion University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Matsushima averaged 5.3 digs per set, getting double-digit digs in all five matches while leading the team in serving with 13 aces. 
 
Pernsteiner secures NWC Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Lutes in both kills and blocks. The junior from Vancouver, Washington had 47 total kills across the five matches, averaging 2.5 kills per set with a .340 hitting percentage. Pernsteiner had 15 kills in the victory over University of Wisconsin-River Falls and had 13 kills and a .524 attack percentage in a three-set sweep of Franklin & Marshall. Pernsteiner racked up 14 blocks over the week, including three solo stuffs against UW-River Falls. 
 
The Lutes are back in action on Friday, facing Whittier College at 11:15 a.m. before taking on University of Redlands at 3:45 p.m.