Sept. 23, 2006

Lutes Remain Unbeaten in Northwest Conference Play

Match Statistics

TACOMA – Pacific Lutheran remained unbeaten in Northwest Conference volleyball action with a 30-16, 30-24, 30-20 victory over the Willamette Bearcats on Saturday night in Olson Auditorium.

The Lutes (10-4 overall, 4-0 NWC), winners of five straight matches, came out smoking in the first game, recording 19 kills and just one attack error and hitting .450 as a team. Junior outside hitter Stacie Matz and freshman middle blocker Kelcy Joynt both had six kills and junior setter Gina Di Maggio recorded 16 of her match-high 40 assists.

Kelley Lindstrom did her best to keep the Bearcats in the first game with five kills, but the visitors from Salem, Ore., were overmatched throughout the entire match.

Willamette gave the Lutes a tougher battle in the second game despite having more attack errors than kills. Libero Jessica Durham had eight of her match-high 18 digs in the second game, and the Lutes committed six attack errors. With Matz adding five more kills and senior outside hitter Kati McGinn chipping in four more, PLU wrapped up the second game.

The Lutes finished the match with another strong showing in the third game, spreading out the attack and finishing the game with 16 or their 50 total kills.

Matz led all players with 14 kills, and McGinn and Joynt, who each had 10, joined her in double-figure kill totals. Megan Kosel had another strong game in defense with 17 digs. For the Bearcats, Lindstrom and Julie Stutzman both finished with eight kills, and Jessica Drumm had 25 assists.

The Lutes return to action next Friday, hosting Whitman in a Northwest Conference match starting at 7 p.m.

- PLU -