Lutes, Ranked #25, Down Willamette in Three Sets to Improve to 18-4 Overall

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- Pacific Lutheran University, ranked #25 in this week's NCAA Division III Poll released by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), recorded 47 kills in a 3-0 win over Willamette University on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Olson Gymnasium. The Lutes hit .342 for the match and committed just nine attacking errors, while improving to 18-4 overall and to 12-2 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats fell to 7-15 overall, 4-10 in the NWC.

Danielle Skibiel and Mackenzie Harris each provided the Lutes with 10 kills. Isabella Zubrod tacked on nine kills, with Chloe Epker and McKenna Ventura producing eight kills apiece. Kiana Calles was credited with 35 assists, while Caylie Shiramizu added 15 digs. Epker chipped in with 10 digs.

Jaiden Mason (Fr., S/OPP, Charlotte, NC/Charlotte Christian School) of Willamette contributed a match-high 16 digs. She also earned 11 assists and five kills. Lauren Stiles (So., OH, Altadena, CA/Flintridge Preparatory School) led WU's attack with six kills. Kendall Fox (So., OH, Dupont, WA/Steilacoom HS) and Emma Liband (Sr., MH, Sandpoint, ID/Sandpoint HS) matched Mason with five kills. Kunani Tuttle (So., S/OPP, Anahola, HI/Kappa HS) supplied the Bearcats with 14 assists. Elena Vasquez finished with 12 digs and Fox made 10 digs.

A run of points by Pacific Lutheran in each set helped the Lutes win the match 3-0.

In the first set, the Lutes surged out to a 7-1 lead. The Bearcats continued to trial by five to eight points until pulling within 18-14 on an attacking error by PLU. The Lutes held another four-point lead at 20-16 following a kill by Jennifer Lane (So., MH/OH, Salinas, CA/Notre Dame HS) of Willamette. Pacific Lutheran earned the next five points to win the set -- on a serving error and an attacking error by the Bearcats, plus a kill by Harris and two combo blocks by the Lutes.

Willamette led 5-4 early in the second set and the Bearcats trailed by just one point at 9-8 after a block by Liband. The Lutes gained an edge with four consecutive points for a 13-8 lead. Pacific Lutheran extended the margin to six points at 16-10 following a service ace by Shiramizu. Stiles registered a kill for Willamette, but the Lutes countered with a 5-0 run for a 21-11 advantage. The Lutes won the set, 25-13.

Pacific Lutheran built a 10-4 lead in the third set on the strength of two kills each by Harris and Zubrod. Willamette earned the next two points, but PLU gradually increased the lead until it reach 18-10. The Bearcats cut the margin to 18-13 three rallies later on a service ace by Liband. The Lutes tallied four points in a row for a 22-13 lead on their way to taking the set, 25-15.

"Tonight was a real disappointment," said Willamette Head Coach Tom Shoji. "We didn't respond well and weren't very competitive."

The Bearcats will host Lewis & Clark College on Friday, Nov. 3 at Cone Field House. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT).